In a bizarre turn of events, protesters in Kano State were seen waving Russian flags on Saturday, appealing for intervention from Russian President Vladimir Putin. This display underscores their growing frustration and belief that the Bola Tinubu-led administration is failing to address their grievances.
The incident occurred on the third day of the #EndBadGovernance nationwide protests, which are driven by widespread hardship and hunger in Nigeria.
Violence erupted in Kano as clashes between hoodlums and security operatives reportedly resulted in multiple fatalities and numerous injuries. The unrest affected several areas, including Rijiyar Lemo, Kurna to Bachirawa in Fagge Local Government Area, Kofar Nasarawa in Kano Municipal Local Government Area, and Unguwa Uku in Tarauni Local Government Area.
Eyewitnesses described how tensions flared when a group of youths defied a state-imposed curfew to continue the protests. Abdulkadir Musa, a resident of Rijiyar Lemo, recounted: “At least eight people were shot in our area, including women and children. An elderly woman and three others have died, while many more sustained serious injuries. People defied the curfew and came out protesting. Security operatives then tried to disperse them and had to shoot to clear the area.”
Another resident, who preferred to remain anonymous, reported that hoodlums attempted to loot shops, including a Rufaida Yoghurt outlet, under the pretext of a hunger protest. Security agents dispersed the looters, who retaliated by throwing stones at the operatives. Reports indicated that a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) was injured during the clash, but this has not been independently verified by LEADERSHIP.
On social media, users shared their personal experiences of the violence. Aiha K. Nass posted, “We are here mourning our grandmother. The police have shot my brother Aliyu. He is now dead.” Omar Khalid Saleh expressed his outrage, writing, “The police in Kano are turning the peaceful protest into something else. Why the shooting and killings? You’re inviting trouble, to be honest. They just shot this teenager, and he died instantly at Kofar Nasarawa Kano metropolis. #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria #EndPoliceBrutality.”
Protesters also gathered along Zaria Road in Unguwa Uku but were dispersed by security operatives.
The Kano State Police Command has yet to address the reported deaths in the metropolis, fueling speculation, especially on social media platforms. Efforts to contact the Police Command’s spokesperson, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, were unsuccessful as his phone remained unreachable at press time.
(Leadership)