Eight Shot, Four Dead in Kano Clashes Amid Protests

 

Many people are feared dead, and several others injured, following violent clashes between hoodlums and security operatives in Kano, Daily Trust reported.

The worst-hit areas include Rijiyar Lemo, Kurna to Bachirawa in Fagge Local Government, Kofar Nassarawa in Kano municipal, and Unguwa Uku in Tarauni Local Government.

According to some eyewitnesses, the face-off began when a group of youths defied the curfew imposed on the state and hit the streets, continuing the nationwide protest that has since turned violent in Kano.

Abdulkadir Musa, a resident of Rijiyar Lemo, said, “At least eight people were shot in our area, including females and children. An elderly woman is now dead alongside three others, while many have sustained serious injuries.

“What really happened is, you know the curfew is still in place, so people defied that and came out protesting. That’s when the security operatives swooped into action, trying to disperse them, and in the process, they had to shoot for the clearance operation to be successful.”

A resident, who preferred to remain anonymous, said the hoodlums, hiding behind the hunger protest, attempted to loot shops, including a Rufaida yogurt outlet. The resident said security agents dispersed the hoodlums, who then resorted to stoning them.

A Divisional Police Officer was reportedly injured during the clash, though this could not be independently verified as of press time. Victims hit by bullets are currently receiving medical attention at Salamatu hospital.

A social media user, Aiha K Nass, posted, “We are here mourning our grandmother; the police have shot my brother Aliyu. He is now dead.”

Another social media user, Omar Khalid Saleh, wrote, “The police in Kano are turning the peaceful protest into something else. Why the shooting and killings? You’re inviting trouble tbh. They just shot this teenager, and he died instantly at Kofar Nasarawa, Kano metropolis. #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria #EndPoliceBrutality.”

The protesters had taken to the streets at Zaria Road along Unguwa Uku but were also dispersed by the security operatives.

Mobile policemen have been mobilized, and a checkpoint has been mounted to block movement around Kurna Asabe, near Bukavu Army Barracks.

Efforts to get the reaction of the police proved abortive as the spokesperson, Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, could not be reached at the time of filing this report.