By Muhammd Sabiu and Mohammed Tijjani Ata
The ongoing demolitions by the Kano State Government to flatten buildings marked “Illegal” in the state have continued to spark outrage as victims alleged maltreatment and the government’s failure to properly handle the situation.
Footage which went viral on social media has shown an unidentified man, bathed in blood draining from his forehead, claiming to be a resident of Salanta area of Sharada in the city of Kano.
He was quoted to have narrated how he was mishandled by security personnel while attempting to resist the demolition of his house.
He said even his pregnant wife was beaten by the security.
The Citizen Reports could not confirm the veracity of the clip, the Kano state government, however, has not released any statement countering it.
It could be recalled that Kano State governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has since before assuming the governorship seat vowed to _bulldoze_ buildings erected on lands auctioned by his predecessor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
Inquisitors describe the Abba Kabir – led government action as a vengeance or a deliberate attempt to bury the “good work” of the past governor who was, previously in the same “Kwankwasiyya” political camp with the current until the former parted ways with the Kwankwasiyya leader.
The Citizen Reports Team led by Mohammed Tijjani Ata has visited Salanta neighborhoods, one of the communities stroke by the “Rusau” tempest.
During our interaction, Yusuf Auwal Gadon Ƙaya, a resident who identified himself as the former Secretary of PDP-Kwankwasiyya, Gwale LGA, under the leadership of Shehu Wada Sagagi, lambasted the administration of Abba Kabir Yusuf, describing it as “autocratic”.
“The government says some plots of land were improperly acquired. It’s therefore demolishing the buildings one after the other, without full-fledged notice and proper consultation.
“Those who acquired these plots followed due process. The [former] governor was the one who auctioned the plots. The occupants were given allocations. They have all the documents, including letters of grant and certificates. They followed all the due processes.” – he added.
“Despite all these, they just came and stained it [the house] with red paint because it would be demolished. The red paint itself cannot be considered as a notice. A notice should be served by KANUPDA, which will indicate the duration of the notice for the building to be demolished.
“The people were only given two days ultimatum to vacate. No law says an occupant of a building should be given that kind of notice.
According to him, the government was outright wrong on this by putting people’s lives and their families in danger and harm.
“This house belongs to my brother. We are not happy about it, and we’re calling on the government to get back to drawing board and reconsider. What it does is not sustainable. It cannot escape people’s curses.” Yusuf continued.
When asked about a claim that proper notice was issued to the residents of Salanta, Gadon Kaya said it was but a blatant lie, stressing, “If they had issued the letter, let them give you a copy.”
What did past administrations do?
Commenting on how former governors handled such a situation, Mr. Yusuf said there were places where former governors of the state, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, and Engr. Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso either demolished or revoked.
“But we saw what they did. When Malam Shekarau wanted to transfer kiosk owners who didn’t follow any due process to acquire the land they occupied, he had to provide a place where they would be transferred to ”
Was there looting of valuables?
In an interview granted with us, one Malam Abdullahi Muhammadu Ahmadu, who is believed to be a member of the vigilantes, recounted how they have been stationed to protect the area against the actions of looters, popularly known as “Yan Ganima”
“We have been struggling with them since morning. Look at us, stationed at strategic places. If you look at that house, they are removing the roof. The man had to go to the state CID to seek support in guarding his belongings. He added.
One of the supposed looters “Yan Ganima” (name withheld) confided with the TCR that they were there to take from the remnants to reduce the hardship they are living in.
All efforts to hear from Kano state government through KANUPDA flopped as the MD, Architect Ibrahim has not answered the calls nor responded text messages to his number.
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