Kano: Four Killed as Residents, Security Forces Clash Over Demolition
By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Four people were reportedly shot dead in Rimin Auzinawa, Ungogo Local Government Area of Kano State, following a violent confrontation between residents and security operatives during a demolition exercise carried out by the state government.
The victims were allegedly killed on Sunday night when security operatives opened fire after residents resisted the demolition of their properties.
Sources revealed that the Kano Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA) had previously marked the affected structures—about 40 residential buildings under construction—for demolition.
It was also confirmed by sources that the disputed land is reportedly owned by Bayero University, Kano (BUK).
A resident affected by the demolition, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed that KNUPDA had earlier resolved the land dispute, confirming that the properties were not part of BUK’s land and insisting they had not encroached on university property.
“We resolved all issues with KNUPDA. They assured us our properties were not within BUK land. But on Sunday night, officials from KNUPDA and security operatives arrived and demolished the buildings.
“When people resisted, security forces opened fire, killing four individuals who have now been buried. It’s a tragic situation,” the source said.
Efforts to obtain an official response from KNUPDA were unsuccessful, as the agency’s managing director was unreachable.
When journalists visited the KNUPDA office, the area was largely deserted, with a staff member attributing the absence of key officials to fear of reprisals.
“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,” the official said.
A senior KNUPDA director, the only high-ranking official available, denied the agency’s involvement in the demolition, stating that it was carried out by a task force from the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning.
An official from the ministry, also speaking anonymously, confirmed that the land belongs to BUK and assured that the government would soon issue an official statement.
