Four Killed in Kano as Residents Clash with Security Operatives Over Demolition
Four people have reportedly been killed in Rimin Auzinawa, Ungogo Local Government Area of Kano State, following a violent confrontation between residents 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.
According to sources, the Kano Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA) had previously marked the affected structures—mostly residential buildings under construction, estimated to be around 40—for demolition. The disputed land is reportedly owned by Bayero University, Kano (BUK).
A resident affected by the demolition, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed that KNUPDA 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.
Efforts to obtain an official response from KNUPDA were unsuccessful, as the agency’s managing director was unreachable. When our correspondent visited the KNUPDA office, it appeared largely deserted, with a staff member attributing the absence of key officials to fear of reprisals.
“There is tension in the office. That’s why the car parks are empty and no senior officials are present. Only junior staff are here, with no clear directive on what to do,” the official said.
A senior KNUPDA director, the only high-ranking official available, denied the agency’s involvement in the demolition, stating that it was carried out by a task force from the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning.
An official from the ministry, also speaking anonymously, confirmed that the land belongs to BUK and assured that the government would soon issue an official statement.
