A crowded street in Kano.
The ancient city of Kano is crawling back to life. Persons of southern origin and other nationals who fled the city in the wake of attacks by extremist religious sects that claimed several lives have returned to commence business. This is even as the residents are excited for the gradual return of peace in the state. Many panic-stricken southerners, especially the Igbo who fled Kano following are back in their shops and other business premises, especially in the Sabon- Gari area, inhabited predominantly by non-Muslims and non-natives. This development has been attributed to improved security lately. Chukwuemeka Ibeh and Ben Okoro, both spare parts dealers, who recently fled Kano city for safety, told National Mirror that they left the town in response to pressure from relatives at home, who feared for their safety. “You don’t leave your place of business for home without making adequate arrangements; it had been a hell while at home doing nothing tangible,” Ibeh said, even as he admitted that most media reports on the conflict did not reflect the true situation on ground. “The reports had generated fear in the minds of people outside Kano and the North generally,” he added.
In like manner, Okoro says, “we are happy there is relative peace now and hope the security agencies will sustain it. People’s confidence is gradually being restored. Don’t forget that for most of us Kano is home.” Security agents have intensified efforts aimed at reassuring residents of their resolve to nip any threat from those who specialise in trouble making in the bud. This is what security sources described as “adjustment and readjustment” which has unhindered access to strategic areas, particularly in the state capital that has, for long, become the den of extremists.
Incidentally, the state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop Ransom Bello, corroborates this, given the improved turnout of worshipers in Churches at Sunday services. It was a clear departure from the situation some months back when they boycotted church services for fear of possible attacks. The Bishop commended the police and Joint Task Force for their effort, as more personnel have been deployed to combat Islamic militants. The combatants have been arriving Bukavu barracks, Headquarters of 3 Bridge of Nigerian Army Kano, as part of renewed efforts to deal with the insurgency and in keeping with the promise of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Azubuike Ihejirika.
The Kano State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Idris, says his command has doubled its efforts and this could be attributed to the support and cooperation they are receiving from the public, traditional rulers and state government. “But of course, we cannot rule out the gallantry, professionalism and commitment of the police. The continued synergy between the various security agencies as reflected in the joint operation of the Joint Task Force, including quasi state security outfits such as Hisbah and Neigbourhood Watch Vigilante Group, is paying off. This had led to drastic reduction of crime as is evidenced is the return of economic and social activities”.
“We have continued to adopt strategies at combating crimes, which include visibility policing and raids on criminal hideouts. It has been very successful, leading to arrests of criminals of different shades. Aside the raids, we have improved vehicular patrol, around the city as well as stop and search and they have proved successful in this campaign. We also have plain cloth personnel at flash points for intelligence gathering and they have lived up to expectations. In the last six months in the state, our bomb experts have been looking out for abandoned explosives and, we have been able to defuse more than 964 assorted high caliber explosives. The exercise is ongoing and we have explained to the public, that whenever they hear the sound of explosives, it should not be interpreted that the state is under attack”, he said.
As part of measures to improve security, the state government has donated 55 new vans. The police got 44, while the Army, Air Force, State Security Service (SSS), Civil Defence and Road Safety Corps got one each. The Governor,Rabiu Kwankwaso, promised to work with security agencies to facilitate security and development in the state. The Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police in charge of zone 1, Abubakar Muhammad, promised that the vehicles would be used for the purpose they were provided.
The governor said, “Although it is the responsibility of the Federal Government to cater for the logistics needs of security agencies, the government decided to assist so they would cope with the challenge of protecting the people. Handling security is mainly the responsibility of the Federal government but the state has to support the Federal Government,” Kwankwaso said.
Kano State had come under attacks by suspected members of some dreaded Islamic sect. Areas affected were Dala and Sharada and Sabon-Gari areas of the metropolis. It was gathered that the gun battle started in Dala and gradually spread to Sharada Quarters, with the police stations coming under heavy bombardment while spreading to the other places. The suspected religious militants were said to have taken over the road linking Dala and Sharada.
The militants had also invaded Mandawari police station in Gwale Local Government Area within Kano metropolis. Residents said the attacks spread to other parts until the security operatives engaged them in gun duels. A resident of Tudun Wada area that shares boundary with the military barracks said the death toll recorded were more than 500, saying most of those killed were passersby. This situation made the non-indigenes to flee the city in droves. It was so bad that some public spirited persons had to arrange for buses to convey nonindigenes, especially those for the east back home. The unabated killing of the Igbo in the northern states, particularly in Kano, Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Adamawa and Niger, had engineered renewed exodus of southerners from the North back to their respective states. Routinely, for two weeks running, buses with people living in that part of the country arrived in eastern cities where refugee camps were set up to temporarily accommodate them as that brought back memories of similar incidents in 1966.
As expected, survivors, still live in fear of religious extremists, even when they go about their normal business activities. When the killings were going on, everyone was sad, and emotions ran high. The people were also bitter that the government, which ought to guarantee their security, appeared not to be in control of the situation at the time.
Before a return to normalcy some of the victims of the killings, included, Amechi Onwuka, Obinna Okoye Akukwe, Osita Aforka, Mrs. Ukamaka Aforka, Uchenna Okpala, Ugochukwu Ezenweke and Simeon Asoh. Already, the fallout from the incident is that many of the relations of those killed and others residing in the North have relocated and sworn not to return back to Kano again. Apart from these set of people, there were others who have come home for good after years of sojourn in Kano. Among them is one Ogbuefi Nnaemeka Nnanyelugo, who lived in Kano for nearly three decades. He said, he is now relieved that he is back home, adding that he will explore other opportunities of making a living in his home state.
In like manner, Okoro says, “we are happy there is relative peace now and hope the security agencies will sustain it. People’s confidence is gradually being restored. Don’t forget that for most of us Kano is home.” Security agents have intensified efforts aimed at reassuring residents of their resolve to nip any threat from those who specialise in trouble making in the bud. This is what security sources described as “adjustment and readjustment” which has unhindered access to strategic areas, particularly in the state capital that has, for long, become the den of extremists.
Incidentally, the state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop Ransom Bello, corroborates this, given the improved turnout of worshipers in Churches at Sunday services. It was a clear departure from the situation some months back when they boycotted church services for fear of possible attacks. The Bishop commended the police and Joint Task Force for their effort, as more personnel have been deployed to combat Islamic militants. The combatants have been arriving Bukavu barracks, Headquarters of 3 Bridge of Nigerian Army Kano, as part of renewed efforts to deal with the insurgency and in keeping with the promise of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Azubuike Ihejirika.
The Kano State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Idris, says his command has doubled its efforts and this could be attributed to the support and cooperation they are receiving from the public, traditional rulers and state government. “But of course, we cannot rule out the gallantry, professionalism and commitment of the police. The continued synergy between the various security agencies as reflected in the joint operation of the Joint Task Force, including quasi state security outfits such as Hisbah and Neigbourhood Watch Vigilante Group, is paying off. This had led to drastic reduction of crime as is evidenced is the return of economic and social activities”.
“We have continued to adopt strategies at combating crimes, which include visibility policing and raids on criminal hideouts. It has been very successful, leading to arrests of criminals of different shades. Aside the raids, we have improved vehicular patrol, around the city as well as stop and search and they have proved successful in this campaign. We also have plain cloth personnel at flash points for intelligence gathering and they have lived up to expectations. In the last six months in the state, our bomb experts have been looking out for abandoned explosives and, we have been able to defuse more than 964 assorted high caliber explosives. The exercise is ongoing and we have explained to the public, that whenever they hear the sound of explosives, it should not be interpreted that the state is under attack”, he said.
As part of measures to improve security, the state government has donated 55 new vans. The police got 44, while the Army, Air Force, State Security Service (SSS), Civil Defence and Road Safety Corps got one each. The Governor,Rabiu Kwankwaso, promised to work with security agencies to facilitate security and development in the state. The Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police in charge of zone 1, Abubakar Muhammad, promised that the vehicles would be used for the purpose they were provided.
The governor said, “Although it is the responsibility of the Federal Government to cater for the logistics needs of security agencies, the government decided to assist so they would cope with the challenge of protecting the people. Handling security is mainly the responsibility of the Federal government but the state has to support the Federal Government,” Kwankwaso said.
Kano State had come under attacks by suspected members of some dreaded Islamic sect. Areas affected were Dala and Sharada and Sabon-Gari areas of the metropolis. It was gathered that the gun battle started in Dala and gradually spread to Sharada Quarters, with the police stations coming under heavy bombardment while spreading to the other places. The suspected religious militants were said to have taken over the road linking Dala and Sharada.
The militants had also invaded Mandawari police station in Gwale Local Government Area within Kano metropolis. Residents said the attacks spread to other parts until the security operatives engaged them in gun duels. A resident of Tudun Wada area that shares boundary with the military barracks said the death toll recorded were more than 500, saying most of those killed were passersby. This situation made the non-indigenes to flee the city in droves. It was so bad that some public spirited persons had to arrange for buses to convey nonindigenes, especially those for the east back home. The unabated killing of the Igbo in the northern states, particularly in Kano, Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Adamawa and Niger, had engineered renewed exodus of southerners from the North back to their respective states. Routinely, for two weeks running, buses with people living in that part of the country arrived in eastern cities where refugee camps were set up to temporarily accommodate them as that brought back memories of similar incidents in 1966.
As expected, survivors, still live in fear of religious extremists, even when they go about their normal business activities. When the killings were going on, everyone was sad, and emotions ran high. The people were also bitter that the government, which ought to guarantee their security, appeared not to be in control of the situation at the time.
Before a return to normalcy some of the victims of the killings, included, Amechi Onwuka, Obinna Okoye Akukwe, Osita Aforka, Mrs. Ukamaka Aforka, Uchenna Okpala, Ugochukwu Ezenweke and Simeon Asoh. Already, the fallout from the incident is that many of the relations of those killed and others residing in the North have relocated and sworn not to return back to Kano again. Apart from these set of people, there were others who have come home for good after years of sojourn in Kano. Among them is one Ogbuefi Nnaemeka Nnanyelugo, who lived in Kano for nearly three decades. He said, he is now relieved that he is back home, adding that he will explore other opportunities of making a living in his home state.
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