Four killed after demolition exercise turns violent in Kano

Four persons were reported killed in Rimin Auzinawa, Ungogo Local Government Area of Kano State, following a clash between residents of the area and security operatives during a demolition exercise.

The victims were allegedly shot dead when security personnel opened fire after residents resisted the destruction of their buildings.

An eyewitness told our correspondent that the Kano Urban Planning and Development Authority had previously marked the affected buildings mostly residential buildings under construction for demolition.

The affected buildings were said to be about 40 while the disputed land belongs to Bayero University, Kano.

A resident affected by the demolition who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the Punch in a telephone interview, that Kano Urban Property Development Authority had initially cleared the properties, confirming they were not within the university’s land.

“We resolved all issues with KNUPDA. They assured us our properties were not within BUK land. But on Sunday night, officials of KNUPDA and security operatives arrived and demolished the buildings.

“When people resisted, security forces opened fire, killing four individuals who have now been buried. It’s a tragic situation,” the source said.

Our correspondent’s attempt to obtain an official response from KNUPDA was unsuccessful, as efforts to contact the agency’s Managing Director proved abortive. However, his mobile phone was not switched off.

Meanwhile, the KNUPDA office had been deserted while most of the officials were alleged to have gone into hiding for fear of being attacked by the aggrieved residents of the area.

When contacted the Public Relations officer of Kano State Police Command, SP Abdullahi Haruna confirmed the incident.

He, however, directed the Punch to contact the PRO of the State command of NSCDC “as they have a casualty on their side”,

Efforts to contact the NSCDC spokesperson proved abortive as his mobile phone was not going through.