Angry thugs invade Idi Mosque Market amid eviction order in Kano

A group of angry thugs invaded the Idi Mosque area on Wednesday, causing significant unrest.

This disturbance followed a 48-hour ultimatum issued to traders by the Kano State government, specifically through the Kano State Urban Planning and Development Agency (KNUPDA), which warned of consequences for non-compliance.

Despite the government’s ultimatum expiring, traders continued their activities amid palpable fear among the over 5,000 petty traders in the Idi Mosque vicinity.

One of the traders, Abdullahi Baba, expressed his concerns to Channels Television about the 48-hour eviction notice. “This place was allocated to us over 10 years ago. Our trading here has helped reduce crimes like phone snatching and theft. Why is this happening? The government should reconsider this decision; we have no other means of livelihood,” Baba said.

In response to the unrest, operatives from the Nigerian Police Force and the Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA) were deployed to the area, restoring relative peace and calm at the Idi Mosque location.

The government’s rationale for the eviction is that the area is illegally occupied by the traders.