Kano State Government has disclosed that the disputed land on which a demolition exercise at Rimin Zakara, close to Bayero University Kano (BUK), led to a clash with residents, belongs to the university.
The State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, gave the clarification during an interview with journalists on Monday evening.
Speaking on the clash between the security operatives that led to the killing of people, Waiya said the information available to him was that three people lost their lives during the incident.
He however, said that the government will set up a commission of enquiry to investigate the matter.
He said, “Actually what has been confirmed by the security is three not four lost their lives, two males and one almajiri. The unfortunate thing is that there is yet to be a formal report.
“One thing I want to clarify is that the operation involved not only the NSCDC, but also the police and the DSS and it was on the request of the Bayero University to the government to support or intervene in evacuating the illegal occupants of the land.
“Unfortunately, despite the notice that was given to the illegal occupants of the land to silently leave the land, they refused to heed to the request but they silently went on to erect illegal structures on the land”.
“There are people that have taken possession of the land and were illegally selling it to people.”
“This land in question is not in any way the possession of the state government now, it is the property of Bayero University,” Waiya added.
The Information Commissioner further disclosed that there has been a lingering issue concerning the land for the past 40 years.
He added that Bayero University management has been struggling to secure access to the land which has been illegally occupied by some people who have erected illegal structures on it.
The Commissioner said he had earlier announced that the state government had approved the title of the land to Bayero University, saying that the inability of BUK management to take possession of the land in good time is responsible for the present crisis.
The Information Commissioner further confirmed that the immediate past administration had taken steps towards the same thing when it set up a committee to evacuate the illegal occupants of the land.
Security operatives had on Sunday night, escorted the team on demolition exercise to Rimin Zakara in Ngogo local government, close to the Bayero University Kano (BUK).
But the demolition exercise, which had affected about 20 structures, met with stiff resistance due to lack of prior notice on the demolition exercise.
About four persons were said to have died while 16 people were injured as security operatives clashed with residents over the demolition exercise.
