One person was killed, yesterday, in a fresh protest that rocked Kano State over the recent Appeal Court verdict sacking Governor Abba Yusuf of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
The victim identified as Salisu Rabiu was allegedly shot by policemen while dispersing protesters.
Yesterday’s protest was the fourth since the appellate court sacked the governor on November 17, 2023, and declared All Progressives Congress’ (APC) candidate, Nasiru Gawuna, as the winner of the March poll.
Yesterday, protesters gathered in some locations across the state displaying placards with inscriptions like: “Our mandate must be restored”; “Kano voted for Abba” and “Injustice exposed in CTC”, amongst others.
Dressed in red-colour popular among the Kwankwasiyya, a socio-religious movement with NNPP 2023 presidential candidate and ex-Kano governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso as the group’s leader, the protesters chanted solidarity songs to register their displeasure.
Policemen were seen stationed at various entrances into the state. The protesters blocked the road linking Katsina State, preventing commuters from traveling.
In a statement, the police spokesman in the state, Abdullahi Kiyawa, confirmed the death of one of the protesters in the Fagge Local Government Area of the state, where a “Police Inspector, who did not receive any command fired a shot and, unfortunately, wounded two people while one other person died while receiving treatment at the hospital”.
“The Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Gumel, directed the Area Commander, Dala, ACP Nuhu Digi, to fish out the erring police inspector with a view to constituting a board of inquiry into the cause of the incident of which the outcome will be communicated to the public.
“Few hours later, the police inspector was arrested and is now in police custody,” the statement partly read.