By Victor Christopher
Some angry mobs suspected to be thugs on Wednesday invaded the Idi mosque area of Kano State along IBB Way, where the state government issued quit notices to traders in the Wambai market area.
Grassroots Parrot had reported how the state government, through the Kano State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA), issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the traders at the mosque area in the Kano metropolis to vacate or face the wrath of the law.
As the 48-hour ultimatum will soon elapse, security operatives, including men of the Nigerian Police Force and the Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA), were deployed to the vicinity on Wednesday to maintain law and order and protect the properties of the affected traders.
During the visit of our correspondent to the area on Wednesday morning, it was observed that the traders were running helter-skelter for safety following the invasion of the suspected thugs brandishing knives, sticks, and other dangerous weapons.
One of the traders, Muhammad Dourayi, told Grassroots Parrot that the angry mobs were chasing the police and KAROTA officers away to enable them to loot some goods in the market.
A source who preferred anonymity also told our correspondent that there is a possibility of demolishing some parts of the shops that are close to the Idi mosque prayer ground, hence the reason for the invasion of the thugs to loot the traders’ goods.
The chairman of the traders association, Yakubu Muhammad, addressed a news conference on Tuesday to object to the state government’s move for their eviction in the area.
Muhammad recalled that the place was allocated to them over 18 years ago by the late Galadima of Kano, Alhaji Tijjani Hashim, through the Emirate Council.
“The place was allocated to our members to check the various criminal activities, such as phone snatching and other immortal activities, being perpetrated at the places’’, he said.
He said previous administrations in the state had found it necessary to allow the traders to continue to operate in the area.
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“We are many here, mostly youths; how can you attempt to separate these guys from their businesses? You know this will portend danger for the state,” he said.
Muhammad said traders did not understand why the government was sending them packing, even though they were law-abiding and contributed to the state’s internally generated revenue.
“We supported this government. We voted for it during the 2023 election. The best empowerment this government can give us is to allow us to continue with our businesses at the Masallacin Idi,” he said.
He urged Governor Abba Yusuf to intervene and save their businesses from looming ruins.
When contacted, a source at the KNUPDA who pleaded anonymity confirmed that the agency had ordered the traders to vacate the place because they were illegally occupying the space.
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