Eight Killed in Confrontations Between Security Agents and Protesters
A family in Kano is demanding justice after losing their son in a violent clash between security forces and protesters last week. At least eight people were reported killed during the confrontations in the Rijiyar Lemo and Kurnar Asabe areas of Fagge Local Government Area.
Bashir Muhammad Lawan, 25, was among those killed in Rijiyar Lemo when protesters clashed with policemen. His bereaved family, mourning his loss, spoke to a Daily Trust reporter, asserting that Bashir was killed while fighting for his rights as a Nigerian citizen.
Malam Muhammad Lawan, Bashir’s father, recounted that his son was shot just fifteen minutes after leaving home to join the protest. He added that several other young people, including women and children, were also allegedly shot by police on the same day.
“He was out there with other people on the road holding placards during the protest, which was peaceful until around Zuhr time when security agents came to disperse them. They were shouting ‘bama yi, bama yi’ (to hell with you), and then the security started shooting, and consequently, my son was hit,” the father recalled.
Relatives of the deceased reported that the police began shooting live bullets when the crowd started booing them. Khadija Bala, Bashir’s elder sister, said he was running for cover when he was hit by bullets.
“They were only protesting but were labeled ‘yan daba’ (thugs). So poor people have no right to demand their rights? We want justice for him,” a sobbing Khadija Bala said.
Despite the Kano State government’s decision to relax the curfew from 24 to 18 hours, businesses remained largely closed on Monday. Groups of protesters carrying Russian flags continued to demonstrate in the streets of Kano.
The state government announced the arrest of 632 suspected vandals for looting public property during the protest.
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