Thuggery: A threat to Kano’s peace, and a must-fight battle for incoming state government, by Abdulaziz Isah Bagwai
When my elder brother told me that on the gubernatorial election day, they barely stayed in their respective shops at Dorayi, I was wondering what could be the cause, because I’m always there with him in the shop, it was only the election day that I was fortunate not to be there.
He told me that thugs had a fight that almost cost lives, and people like him who weren’t living in the area had to struggle for where to hide.
I was unfortunate to witness a similar incident on Thursday 6th April 2023. It was in the night, after Isha’i prayer. We heard a heavy tiptoe sound which continued to grow louder and closer to our ears. “Yan daba ne, ku gudu” someone declared. ‘(Thugs are coming, everyone should run for their safety):. I heard the sound of doors shutting.
I ran to my shop where I sell soft drinks and eggs, shut the back and the front door and then ran the street into the neighbourhood. Very close to me, I heard an indistinct sound of guns coming from Dorayi Karshen Waya’s axis. The sound, plus the darkness made the atmosphere very scary.
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I later learnt it was police officers that were sent to chase the thugs away but unfortunately, the thugs were done with the robbery before they arrived.
In the alley, the police officers sprayed tear gas and were running after innocent people. Whoever was unlucky, they’ll be arrested and reported as a member of the thug’s union. While I was amongst those innocent people, a cutlass bruised the back of my hand while trying to escape the police’s tyranny, which still pains me.
I’m writing this to let the incoming Kano state government that they’ve quite a big task to finish and a hard battle to conquer.
Abdulaziz, a freelance writer, writes from Kano State, Nigeria and can be reached via aibagwai001@gmail.com
