A recent protest in Kano State following the Appeal Court’s decision to remove Governor Abba Yusuf of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has resulted in the confirmed death of one individual.
Salisu Rabiu, a footballer, was among those shot by police while dispersing protesters during Wednesday’s demonstration, the fourth since the Appellate Court removed the governor on November 17, 2023. The court declared Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the March poll.
Protesters gathered in various locations across the state on Wednesday, holding placards with inscriptions like ‘Our mandate must be restored,’ ‘Kano voted for Abba,’ ‘Injustice exposed in CTC,’ among others.
Clad in the popular red color associated with the Kwankwasiyya, a socio-religious movement led by Rabiu Kwankwaso, the NNPP 2023 presidential candidate and former governor of Kano, the demonstrators chanted solidarity songs to express their discontent.
Policemen were seen stationed at various entrances of the state. The protesters blocked the road linking to Katsina State, preventing commuters from traveling.
‘Trigger-Happy Cop Arrested’
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 from the existing chain of Command fired a shot and unfortunately wounded two persons with one other person died while receiving treatment at the hospital”.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Gumel, directed the Area Commander Dala, ACP NuhuDigi 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 has since been arrested and is now in Police custody,” the statement partly read.
The police regretted the death of the protester and commiserated with the family of the deceased.
Protest Spreads To Abuja
A parallel protest unfolded in Abuja on Wednesday as NNPP leaders contested the verdict of the appellate court.
The demonstration initiated at the party’s headquarters in Abuja and extended to the ECOWAS Secretariat, the United Nations Office, and several embassies in the capital.
The protesters aimed to highlight the situation in Kano, particularly in light of the appellate court’s decision on the governorship election, drawing attention from both Nigerians and the international community.