Katsina #EndBadGovernace protest deaths, injuries

Faith Awa Maji

An aggrieved mother and relatives of Katsina State citizens who were allegedly killed and brutalised during the #EndBadGovernaceInNigeria in Katsina have demanded justice over alleged security brutality and killing of their people.

Their demand followed the death of a minor and an unverified number of persons who were allegedly shot by security operatives during the #EndBadGovernaceInNigeria protest in the state.

A mother in a viral video displayed the corpse of her son who was murdered in the process that took place at the Kofar Sauri, Katsina metropolitan area saying, “I will not forgive the perpetrators of my son’s death. He was just a minor, and they had no right to take his life from me.”

In an interview with our correspondent, a resident of Katsina who only gave his name as Ramalan, said apart from the case of the viral video, other victims who suffered brutality from men of the Nigeria Police and operatives of the Department of State Service brutality during the peaceful protests were four.

“I can categorically say that to the best of my knowledge, three persons, youths and the small boy in a viral video of a mother crying are four that were killed,sic” he said.

However, reports from different quarters said many were killed and several injured on day six of the protest along Kofar Kaura, Kofar Sauri, and Modoji where youths displayed Russian flags during the protests.

A mother to an injured victim, Bilkisu Adamu whose son, Aminu was not among the protesters but sustained a gunshot injury on his left hand, narrated how a bullet penetrated her son’s hand while standing at the front door of the house.

She said after the gunshot, he was rushed to the Hajiiya Turai Yar’adua General Hospital, Katsina for treatment.

“I was informed on the phone that my son was shot. While I wanted to come home to see for myself, another person called warning me that the police were shooting people indiscriminately, the place was no longer safe, saying I should instead go to the general hospital where injured victims were taken for treatment.

“I immediately rushed there and when I reached the hospital I saw the medical personnel in tears because of teargas.

“In fact, a pregnant woman from our neighbourhood died from teargas that were thrown into her house while she was in labour.

“The entire Kofar Sauri community was filled with teargas and my son was lucky to have survived with just a gunshot wound because there was a boy that was shot dead. About six to seven persons were killed in this area to my knowledge.

“I want justice for my son, I can’t forgive them.”

She continued “The security only brutalised innocent youths that did not even participate in the protest.

“The protesters are there at the main road, why enter our community and shoot innocent people, knowing that they are not even permitted by law to do so?”

“You see, it has turned into another thing entirely. Are we going to deal with the hardship we are facing, food shortages or funds to treat our children? I’m not happy with this,” Bilkisu lamented.

She again expressed concern over the show of force by the security as she condemned the brutality done to innocent people who had nothing to do with the protest.

Muntari Garba, uncle to Mallam Shefi’u, another victim who allegedly sustained bullet wounds and died, Shefi’u was shot by a stray bullet though he was not among the protesters

“He only went out to eat when security personnel targeted and shot him,” he said.

He expressed displeasure over the inability of the government, police and DSS to calm down people’s emotions over the brutality since the incident happened three days ago.

“No delegation to sympathise with us or even for the government to condemn its actions.

“As much as I want justice for my nephew, I call on the government to caution security operatives against brutality and indiscriminate shooting of people in the disguise of controlling peaceful protesters,” he said.

Recall that the Katsina State Police Command earlier in a statement by its spokesperson, Sadiq Abubakar said no life was lost during the protest.

However, as the new development unfolded, efforts by our correspondent to get the reaction of the state police command proved abortive as calls, and messages via SMS and WhatsApp to the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Sadiq for comment were yet to be responded to as at the time of filing in this report.