Post-election Violence Displaces 10,000 in Kano

By Taiye Agbaje
April 22, 2011

At least 10,000 people have been displaced in Kano State following the crisis that engulfed some northern states shortly after last Saturday’s presidential elections, the director general of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said.

Mohammed Sani-Sidi, who led a Special Presidential Committee on the Plight of Displaced People to the Kano State police commissioner, Dan’Azumi Doma, also said not less than 100 people were arrested in connection with the crisis.

The NEMA boss, who commended the swift response of security agencies in controlling the situation, told the displaced people that the team was undertaking on-the-spot assessment inspection of the trouble spots.

He assured them that the government would continue to protect and provide basic need of people in the Internally Displaced Peoples Camps (IDPCs) pending the return of normalcy to the affected communities.

“President Jonathan has directed that we should ensure you are adequately provided with the basic needs as relief materials are being transported to various locations to improve the condition and plights of innocent people,” he said. “So far, many more trucks are being dispatched from our strategic warehouses to meet the demand. However, from the preliminary reports by response agencies, the crises were neither religious nor ethnic, so we should be cautious of inputting sectional sentiments into this.”

No gatherings permitted

Mr Doma told the committee that though properties were destroyed and many injured, there was no loss of life in the state.

“There was no single record of death from the recent incident in Kano and no single corpse was deposited in the mortuary,” he said.

Mr Doma has, however banned all forms of political gathering in the state, saying the police would deal with anyone violating the order.

“No form of political gathering, including rallies and campaigns would be condoned until after the governorship election,” he said.

Mr Doma, who urged leaders of political parties in the State to strictly abide by the directive in the interest of peace and stability, said the action was part of measures taken by the police to checkmate the spread of the violence and reduce apprehension and anxiety among the people, particularly those taking refuge at military and police barracks.

Mr. Doma also pleaded with parents to caution their children and wards against committing acts capable of breaching the peace.

“The Command and indeed other security agencies have commenced investigation to apprehend the sponsors and the brains behind the dastardly acts, no matter how highly placed they are in society,” he said.

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