By Suleiman Ibrahim
Kano, Nigeria – At least four people are reported dead following a violent clash in Kano State’s Rimin Auzinawa, Ungogo Local Government Area. The incident occurred after residents clashed with security operatives during a demolition exercise.
Residents allege that security personnel opened fire, resulting in the fatalities, after they resisted the destruction of their properties. Approximately 40 structures, primarily residential buildings under construction, were demolished. These buildings had reportedly been previously marked by the Kano Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA).
The land in question is reportedly owned by Bayero University, Kano (BUK). A resident, speaking anonymously, claimed that KNUPDA had previously cleared the properties, assuring residents that the buildings were not located on university land. “We resolved all issues with KNUPDA. They assured us our properties were not within BUK land. But on Sunday night, officials of KNUPDA, security operatives arrived and demolished the buildings,” the resident stated. “When people resisted, security forces opened fire, killing four individuals who have now been buried. It’s a tragic situation.”
KNUPDA officials were unavailable for comment. The agency’s office appeared largely deserted when visited by reporters, with a staff member citing fear of reprisals as the reason for the absence of senior officials. A senior KNUPDA director, the only high-ranking official present, stated that the demolition was carried out by a task force from the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning, not KNUPDA.
An official from the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning, also speaking anonymously, confirmed BUK’s ownership of the land and stated that the government would soon release an official statement regarding the incident. The situation remains tense, and further details are expected to emerge in the coming days.
