Kano Gov’t Probes Deadly Clash During Demolition Exercise

Kano State Government has initiated an investigation into the violent clash that occurred during a demolition exercise in Rimin Zakara, Ungogo local government area of the State, which resulted in four deaths.

LEADERSHIP reports the deadly clash happened on Sunday night when officials from the State’s Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning, accompanied by security personnel, arrived at the site around 10pm to demolish over 40 properties. The action was met with fierce resistance from residents, leading to a violent clash.

In the ensuing chaos, security operatives allegedly discharged weapons, resulting in deaths.

The State’s Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Abdullahi Wayya, disclosed that investigation into the clash has begun during an interview with journalists on Monday. He, however, affirmed that the disputed land belongs to Bayero University Kano (BUK) but noted that the land had been occupied by settlers for over 40 years.

“Previous administrations have tried to resolve the dispute to no avail. However, during the last council meeting, Governor Yusuf affirmed that the land belongs to BUK and directed relevant authorities to assist the university in reclaiming it,” Wayya explained.

The commissioner stated that the settlers had been served with a notice to vacate the property before the demolition, but they refused to comply.

“They didn’t adhere to the notice, and some of them attacked the officers that were part of the demolition team, leading to the deadly altercation,” he said.

Wayya added that while the state was yet to determine the full sequence of events, it has been confirmed that weapons were discharged during the incident, and several Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officers sustained severe injuries and are currently receiving treatment.

He emphasised that a committee has been established to thoroughly investigate the incident before further actions were taken.

“We want to ensure justice and transparency in this matter. The committee will investigate the circumstances surrounding the demolition, the resistance from the community, and the conduct of the security operatives involved,” he stated.