Kano #EndBadGovernance Protest Leads To 326-Suspected Vandals Being Paraded By Police

Kano #EndBadGovernance Protest Leads To 326-Suspected Vandals Being Paraded By Police

The police command in Kano on Friday, August 2, paraded 326 suspects involved in the destruction and looting of public and private properties during the supposed peaceful nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest.

Among the suspects are five women and 21 children aged below 15 years.

Besides weapons, an avalanche of food items and other properties were recovered.

Items recovered include AK47 rifles, bags of rice, jerrycans of oil, air conditioners, cottons of indomie and spaghetti, cosmetics, furniture, computers and laptops among others.

Vandalism, destruction of public and private properties, killing and maiming of citizens by hoodlums and criminal elements heralded Thursday’s supposed peaceful protest in Kano.

Several sopping malls were forced opened and looted, vehicle screens smashed, drivers harassed and mobile phones snatched from pedestrians as the vandalism spree went on.

The hoodlums laid siege at the gate of Government House wrecking havoc.

The Digital Industrial Park (DIP) of the the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) representing northwestern region of Nigeria, and located along State Road to be commissioned on August 7, was vandalised.

Tensions heightened in various areas of Kano, as protesters of the #EndBadGovernance took to the streets to voice their grievances over soaring food prices.

The official bus of Channels Television in Kano was vandalised and its windscreen smashed as violent protesters descended on journalists in the vehicle covering the protest.

Haruna Saidu who delivers The Nation Newspaper hard copies at Galadima, France Road of Kano metropolitan city was attacked at Maibawa, on his way back to Abuja.

Some items in his car, including 25 litre fuel, and more than N10 thousand were carted away. He was held hostage for hours, he said.

Commissioner of Police, Kano state, Salman Garba, on Friday directed the Anti-Cyber Crime Unit of the command to launch an investigation with a view to prosecuting the perpetrators.

Police spokesman, Abdullahi Kiyawa, who briefed reporters at the command headquarters on behalf of the commissioner, said: “In the aftermath of August 1, 2024 nationwide protest, a total of 326 suspects were arrested with large quantity of exhibits recovered.

“All the suspects will be charged to court for prosecution.

“The commissioner of police commended the Kano State Government for prompt intervention of imposing the 24-hour curfew.

“In addition, the commissioner of calls on parents, guardians and the law-abiding people of the State who saw their wards with looted properties to voluntarily return same to the nearest police station.”