Metro

Controversy trails murder of Kano protester

Controversies have continued to trail the alleged killing of a young man by a police officer during protest in Kurna Quarters area of Kano.

The police however said the man lost his life as a result of groups of rival restive youths engaged in fighting.

It was gathered that residents of Kurna-Asabe in Fagge local group came out to express their displeasure over the sacking of Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, the state governor when the incident occurred and a police officer allegedly shot him down while some other people sustained injury.

The acting National Chairman of the New Nigeria People Party ( NNPP), Hon. Abba Kawu Ali in a statement signed and made available on Wednesday to the press said that “the NNPP, hereby brings to the attention of Nigerians and the world at large that the Nigeria Police have shot dead a young man, Salisu Player, somewhere around Kurna in Dala local government of Kano”.

However, a statement signed by the Police Public Relation Officer ( PPRO) SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, on Wednesday said the Police Command is following up on the unfortunate development that occurred in Kurna Quarters, Fagge LGA Kano on 28th November 2023 where groups of rival restive youths engaged in fighting and a Police Inspector who did not receive any command from the existing chain of Command fired a shot and unfortunately wounded two persons and one other person died while receiving treatment at the hospital.

He said that the State Police Commissioner, Usaini Gumel has ordered the arrest of an Inspector over unprofessional conduct leading to the alleged death of one person and injury of two others

He said that it is in the forgoing development that the Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel, directed the Area Commander Dala, ACP Nuhu Mohammed Digi to fish out the erring Police Inspector to constitute a board of inquiry into the cause of the incident of which the outcome will be communicated to the public.

‘’This action of the Police Inspector is quite regrettable. This is because, since the assumption of office of the CP, the Police have never entered into confrontation with the members of the public talk less of firing gunshots,’ SP Kiyawa said.

“It is a known fact that the Police Command is fully committed to the respect of rights and freedom of all people.

“Therefore, the Command is calling on members of the public to be rest assured that justice will be served in handling the situation which is quite strange when compared with the cordial relationship existing between the Police and the Public,’’ the statement further added.

‘’The Commissioner of Police while commiserating with the family of the deceased and praying for the departed soul, urged members of the public to maintain calmness as the Command is taking the incident with utmost seriousness and is committed to upholding the principle of justice and transparency.

‘’Please let us all recognize that this is a trying period for the Police Command alongside all the peace-loving people of the State as “hijackers” are all over the place to turn the protest political and instigate the escalation of violence which will not be in the interest of the State.’’

The acting national chairman of NNPP, Hon Abba Kawu Ali said that the party condemned the police brutality on the young man shot dead in Kano, calling for immediate investigation and respect for human rights.

According to him, “Salisu Player is one of the three people shot while the others are in critical condition. The incident occurred yesterday evening during a peaceful protest.

“The NNPP has always asked the citizens to do their protest in a peaceful manner and the protest around Kurna where Salisu Player was shot, though spontaneous, was not different.

“It would appear that men of the Nigeria Police are ill-trained for handling even peaceful protests as we regret the recorded death which is painful and unfortunate.

“We commiserate with friends and family of the deceased as we urge all the people of Kano to remain calm and restrained from acting outside the rule of law.”

Tribune further gathered the police inspector in question has been taken into custody for further investigation.

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