Police Inspector, 2 Others Killed In Fresh Kano Crisis

Kola Oyelere, Kano - 09.02.2008

IRATE youths in Sunmaila Local Government Area of Kano State on Friday allegedly razed a police station, matchetted an Inspector of Police to death and two others in a religious crisis that erupted in the area. The crisis, which occurred in Sunmaila town, a distance of about 50 kilometers to the ancient city of Kano, also resulted in the burning of five vehicles and seven motorcycles parked in front of the police station.

Two other vehicles that belong to the Government Secondary School (GSS), Sunmaila, were vandalised. The Commissioner of Police, Kano State Police Command, Mr. Muhammad Yesufu, who on Friday evening was at the scene of the incident with the state Deputy Governor, Engr. Abduallahi Gwarzo, confirmed the report in an interview with newsmen.

According to an eyewitness who did not want his name in print, the crisis may not be unconnected with an allegation that a school boy sketched a cartoon of Prophet Mohammed.

Though the source hinted that when the matter was reported to the school principal, the said student was suspended by the school authority, another source added that a youth association named Sunmaila Youths Association was allegedly not happy with the suspension.

Furthermore, it was revealed by another source that the student was alleged to have been pardoned and the suspension lifted. This allegedly infuriated some youths in the town who invaded the GSS in order to mete their own punishment.

In order to avert being attacked by the irate youths who came to school, the student ran to police station close to the school. The refusal of the police to release the student reportedly made the youths angry.