A deadly confrontation between security forces and protesters in Kano state has resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries.
The unrest occurred during the ongoing #EndBadGovernance demonstrations, which have defied a government-imposed curfew.
Eyewitnesses report that at least eight people, including women and children, were shot in the Rijiyar Lemo area, with an elderly woman and three others confirmed dead. Many others have sustained serious injuries.
The police spokesman, SP Abdullahi Haruna, confirmed the incident but stated that details are still being gathered and will be released once the investigation is complete.
The trouble began when security forces attempted to disperse youths who had gathered in defiance of the 24-hour curfew imposed by the Kano State Government. Protesters, carrying placards, had gathered in various areas, chanting slogans such as “We would rather be killed by a bullet than killed by hunger.”
The protest, which started peacefully on Thursday, turned violent, with hoodlums attempting to loot shops and public properties. The newly built Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Industrial Park was set ablaze, with looters making away with equipment and appliances.
Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf had imposed the curfew to restore order, but the defiance of the curfew has led to further clashes.
