Four people feared dead at Rimin Auzinawa, Ungogo Local Government Area of Kano State, following a violent clash with security operatives over the demolition of properties which was carried out around 10 pm on Sunday night
An eye witness who preferred anonymity however disclosed that the victims were reportedly shot dead by security personnel after residents resisted the demolition
of their buildings.
However,a reliable source added that the demolished structures – mostly residential buildings under construction, estimated at around 40 – had been previously marked by the Kano Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA).
According to him ” The land in question is said to belong to Bayero University, Kano (BUK).
While speaking further ,a resident affected by the demolition, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed that KNUPDA had earlier cleared the properties, confirming they were not on university land.
He emphasised that” We resolved all issues with KNUPDA. They assured us our properties were not within BUK land,”
He then disclosed that “But on Sunday night, between 10 pm,an officials of KNUPDA, security operatives arrived and demolished the buildings.
He hinted that ” When people resisted, security forces opened fire, killing four individuals who have now been buried. It’s a tragic situation.”
All efforts to get the comment from KNUPDA were unsuccessful, as the agency’s Managing Director was unreachable.
When our correspondent visited KNUPDA’s office, it was found largely deserted, with a junior staff member attributing the absence of key officials to fear of reprisal attacks.
He stated that ” 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,”
A senior KNUPDA director, the only high-ranking official available, insisted the demolition was not carried out by KNUPDA but rather by a task force from the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning.
However an official from the ministry, also speaking anonymously, confirmed that the land belongs to Bayero University and assured that the government would issue an official statement later in the day.