By Caleb Jacob
The Kano State Police Command has dismissed viral social media reports alleging reprisal attacks in Kano following the recent killing of 16 Kano-bound travelers in Edo State.
On Thursday, a mob in the Uromi area of Edo State allegedly attacked and killed hunters of northern descent who were traveling from Elele, Rivers State. A truck carrying 25 travelers was intercepted by a vigilante group in Uromi.
The travelers were attacked and lynched after some vigilante members raised an alarm, suspecting them to be kidnappers. Ten of the travelers were rescued, while two injured individuals were taken to a hospital for treatment.
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation from the Presidency, the governments of Kano and Edo States, politicians, and concerned Nigerians.
READ ALSO: Kano Govt Condemns Brutal Killing Of Travellers In Edo, Calls For Justice
However, a Facebook post by the user “Boys/Girls Brigade TV” on Saturday claimed that an 18-seater bus carrying Igbo passengers was set on fire in Kano.
The post further alleged that panic had spread across the Igbo community in the state as Fulani men rampaged, attacking and killing Igbo individuals in retaliation for the Edo killings.
It also claimed that 18 Igbos lost their lives that morning when a violent Fulani mob ambushed their bus, set it ablaze, and left no survivors.
As of the time of this report, the post has garnered significant reactions and shares on Facebook, with many users questioning its credibility.
For instance, Sunday Ochokwunu Joseph commented, “Fake news. I am in Kano and based in Kano; nothing of such happened. This is the right time for the federal government to start arresting some of these bloggers. What a nonsensical element.”
Another user, Oga Solexx, wrote, “Fake news. I’ll make sure I report this to the government so that they take immediate action. We are tired of all this nonsense. The bus that was burnt was in Edo State, carrying northern people who claimed to be hunters.”
READ ALSO: Police Arrest 14 Suspects For Killing Of 16 Travellers In Edo
Almustapha Jibrin also added, “Your news isn’t genuine; you just want to create violence across the country. If you really mean it, show us a video of how it happened. I’m from the North, and nothing like that has occurred.”
Other users similarly demanded details regarding the date, area, and town of the alleged reprisal attack, which the original poster has yet to provide.
Meanwhile, Grassroots Parrot tracked down the phone number of the poster through his profile and reached out to him.
When questioned about the source of his claim, he admitted to lifting the story from a northern-based blogger but could not confirm whether the blogger was in Kano. He promised to verify the story and revert but never did. Subsequent calls to his number went unanswered.
READ ALSO: UPDATED: Why Kano Police Banned Salah Durbar For Two Consecutive Years
Our correspondent also reached out to the Kano Police spokesperson, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, who did not initially respond to calls but later replied via WhatsApp, stating simply, “Fake news, please.”
Additionally, CRC Abdullahi Labaran, spokesperson for the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kano Command, debunked claims that an 18-passenger bus was burned during the rumored mob attack.
He urged the public to beware of fake news designed to incite violence in Kano State.