Abba Ibrahim Gwale, a freelance journalist and 40 activists were injured on Thursday 15 October, 2020, when armed hoodlums attacked the #EndInsecurityNow peaceful protest organized by the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) in Kano.
Ibrahim Gwale, a 2016 graduate of Mass Communications from Bayero University, Kano was at hand to cover much-publicized protests when violence broke out and was macheted on the line of duty.
The protesters carried placards with inscription “Arewa is bleeding,” “EndInsecurityNow,” “No Security, No Education. No Education, No Security,” “End Boko Haram,” “Empower SWAT to stop #EndInsecurityNow,” and “All lives matters,” and “Arewa mu Farka,” among others had marched on confidently before the hiccup.
Violence, however, broke out some 500 meters from takeoff, when hoodlums pretending to be friendly unleashed terror attack despite police cover.
Consequently, the injured victims were evacuated to an unnamed hospital for treatment at the city centre.
The protesters rank was swelled by a handful of some northern artists and celebrities that includes Danladi Maibulala, Adam Abdullahi aka Fresh, Emir Aku Mai Magana, Ali Jita and Zainab A. Baba.
Dr Muhammad Bello Nawaila, Convener of the Kano protest told reporters shortly after the attack that 40 of its members sustained various degrees of injuries when bandits sacked the peaceful protest 500 metres from take-off point in Kabuga general area.
The convener explained “After about 500 meters away, some hoodlums approached us as if they were in support and were trying to give us pure water, and suddenly we saw cutlasses and about 40 of our members were injured.
Speaking further, “They created a chaotic situation and dispersed us in the ensuing confusion. What surprised us was that in the movement, we got security backing, two patrol vehicles of the police were at the front and two at the back. But in the process of the attack by the hoodlums, we could not find the security operatives. It was after we have been injured that the police now resurfaced. “
The tough-talking activists stated that despite the attack “We would continue with the protest until President Muhammadu Buhari listen to our calls. If within 3 days, the #EndSARS protest can lead to SARs ending, we would continue until President Buhari takes a bold step and keeps Nigeria safe.”
The police in Kano are keeping sealed lip over the development, as Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP, Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, the spokesperson of the Kano State Police Command, failed to respond to calls and SMS to his known GSM lines.
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