Tension as home of deputy governor is attacked in Niger state
- A civil unrest erupted in Niger state following the demolition of a mini-market
- The office of the deputy governor blamed the unrest on irate youths
- The state government justified the demolition exercise on the Brighter Road in Minna
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The private residence of the Niger state deputy governor, Ahmed Ketso, has come under attack from restive youths and traders.
Premium Times reported that the mob carried out the attack on Tuesday, February 16, after the state government demolished their shops.
Source: Twitter
The state government in a bid to clear highways in the state of illegal structures demolished a mini-market on Brighter Road in Minna.
Some people affected by the demolition reportedly vented their anger against the state government.
The traders claimed that they were not given notice before the Niger State Urban Development Board (NSUDB) bulldozers rolled in.
One of the shop owners, Muritala Ahmed, said:
“I was just sitting in my shop and they said come out; their bulldozer was already stationed in front of my shop and immediately they removed me forcefully, their bulldozer brought down my entire shop without allowing me to pick my cash, goods and other valuables.
“I feel like dying as the board has taken me back to zero level, I am left with nothing right now.'
Moses Dunia, another trader affected by the demolition exercise, alleged that the state government protected the house of the state deputy governor on the same lane when demolishing the properties of common people.
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However, a spokesperson to the deputy governor, Maimuna Kolo, faulted the action of the youths.
She said:
''They (youth) decided to vent their anger on the private residence of the deputy governor.
“The deputy governor was just a victim of circumstance in this case.''
The Punch reported that Urban Development Board denied giving preference to the properties of any influential person.
The board insisted that all the illegal structures in the area were duly served with notice of demolition.
Meanwhile, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger state has ordered the immediate closure of all boarding schools in Rafi, Mariga, Munya, and Shiroro local government areas of the state.
The governor gave the order following the abduction of some student from the Government Science College Kagara.
According to The Nation, Bello told journalists on Wednesday, February 17, that order was a security measure to save the life of the students.
Kess Ewubare is a senior political/current affairs correspondent at Legit.ng. He has both a BSc and a Master’s degree in mass communication. He has over 10 years of experience in working in several fields of mass communication including radio, TV, newspaper, and online. For Kess, journalism is more than a career, it is a beautiful way of life.
Source: Legit.ng
