A violent clash involving security operatives and residents over the demolition of properties has reportedly claimed not less than four lives in Rimin Auzinawa, Ungogo Local Government Area of Kano State.
Reports indicated that the victims were reportedly shot dead by security personnel after residents retaliated against the destruction of their buildings in the area.
It was gathered that the demolished structures, mostly residential buildings under construction estimated at 40, had been previously marked by the Kano Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA) for removal as illegally erected buildings
Insider sources said KNUPDA decided to demolish the illegal structures because the land reported encroached on belongs to Bayero University, Kano (BUK).
Reacting to the development but on condition of anonymity, one of the residents affected by the demolition, claimed that KNUPDA had earlier cleared the issues and confirmed that the now demolished properties were not on the University land as initially thought.
According to the affected resident; “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 to demolish the buildings without any prior notice.
“When people resisted what they felt was an illegal invasion of their privacy, the security forces opened fire, killing four individuals who have now been buried. It’s a tragic situation”.
Responding to reporters’ inquiries on the matter, a top KNUPDA management official, who did not want his name in print since having no official mandate to speak, hinted that the demolition was carried out by a task force from the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning and not the Agency.
With the KNUPDA’s office largely deserted due to what Forefront News gathered was the fear of possible reprisals from the aggrieved residents, a competent source explained thus; “There is palpable 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”.
Though the Land Ministry, which is enmeshed in the demolition saga is yet to officially speak on the development, an insider maintained that the said land belongs to BUK and the affected persons only took advantage with the connivance of some unscrupulous elements within the system to appropriate the now disputed portions to themselves for selfish reasons,
However, the source confirmed that the State government would soon issue an official statement to clear the air and take any further action deemed necessary.
