Kano Erupts with Protests over Alleged Police Killing of Boy, 17, and End Insecurity March
Kano State woke up to the news of sudden protests in the Sabon Gari area of the city, while another one rocks the inner Township area of Kofar Mata.
The two protests may not be directly linked, but Nigerian Sketch learnt that they were all target at police brutality.
The Sabon Gari protest was influenced by the wave of protests going on around the country for weeks now, while that of Kofar Mata was spontaneously reactive to an alleged death of a 17-year old young man in the hands of the police in the state.
The young man whose name was given as Saufullahi was said to have died in police custody Monday morning, following his arrest two days ago at his parents’ residence.
Even though he was released on bail on Saturday, he was rearrested on Sunday and allegedly died Monday morning after been tortured.
Trouble was said to have started when the police brought his corpse to the family house on Monday, and the community rose in protest, chanting their disapproval to his death and calling for restitution.
The community members said they will take the matter up with the police hierarchy in the state and beyond, especially given the fact that the young man was seen as law abiding level headed in the area.
This was coming at a time when the country was awash with protests against similar behavior by the police and Kano, which has been relatively calm, has suddenly erupted with riots this morning.
Only four days ago, the state DSS was alleged to have stamped out a group’s planned march by arresting its leaders, but that appears to have failed to muzzle citizens’ outcry as the ever busy Ibo Road in Sabon Gari area was occupied by youth demonstrating against insecurity and police brutality on Monday.
The state police command has not reacted to the two incidences as of the time we publish this story, but citizens have said they are watching to see how the state security operatives will manage the situation.
