No fewer than four people were killed on Sunday night in violence at Rimin Zakara, near Bayero University, Kano during a demolition drive by the Kano State government.
Those killed were allegedly shot dead by security operatives attached to the demolition team.
The land in question reportedly belongs to Bayero University, Kano (BUK).
Eyewitnesses in the area told our correspondent that the incident occurred on Sunday night around 9pm
The demolition according to the eyewitnesses affected over 40 structures.
According to residents, the exercise was met with resistance due to the lack of prior notice served on them.
One of the eyewitnesses, Shehu Jubrin told NewsDay that the demolition team arrived late at night, catching residents off guard.
He explained that the dispute over the land between Bayero University Kano and the residents had been ongoing for over 20 years.
“This incident happened around 8:30 p.m. when officials from the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning arrived in our area and began demolishing our shops and houses. They claimed that the land belongs to Bayero University, which is not true,” Dan-Baba said.
“As I am speaking to you now, four persons have been killed by security agents, and we buried them this morning,” he added.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Kano Command, Ibrahim Abdullahi, confirmed the incident.
He stated that security personnel including the NSCDC were deployed to the area to protect government property and were met with hostility.
“We went there to provide security and safeguard government properties. However, the residents attacked our personnel, injured one of our officers, and damaged our vehicles,” Abdullahi said.
Meanwhile, the Director of Media and Publicity at the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning, Umar Abdu Kurmawa, defended the demolition, stating that the land belongs to Bayero University and that the government had all the necessary legal documents before proceeding with the exercise.
“We issued prior notice before carrying out the demolition, and in fact, all affected persons had been compensated over 20 years ago. The land belongs to Bayero University, and we had to proceed with the demolition because the occupants refused to vacate,” Kurmawa said.
All efforts to speak to Bayero University, Kano, Director, Public Affairs, Malam Lamara Garba was not successful as his phone was switched off.
WATCH VIDEO BELOW:
Please i want to call the attention of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf @Kyusufabba to order immediate investigation in to what happened yesterday at Rimin Auzinawa that lead to the death of two people.
He should order that whoever is carrying out the demolition exercise to stop… https://t.co/BogC2ArEQK pic.twitter.com/lJnge2Mi4m
— Mk_maitama (@Mk__maitama) February 3, 2025
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