A Kano-based lawyer, Abba Hikima, has called on Kano Central senatorial aspirant, Abdussalam Abdulkareem, (A.A. Zaura), to compensate traders affected by the violent attack at the Farm Centre mobile phone market in the State.
Hikima, a rights advocate, made the call in a post on his verified Facebook page on Monday, hours after suspected thugs reportedly invaded the market, attacking traders and customers while also looting valuables.
“It is imperative for A. A. Zaura to compensate the traders of Farm Centre for all damages caused by his political thugs. This is not an act of goodwill, but an obligation imposed by the laws of the Nigerian Constitution,” he wrote.
The attack, which occurred in broad daylight, threw the busy commercial area into chaos, with eyewitnesses saying the assailants stormed the market wielding dangerous weapons and intimidating traders and customers.
The incident reportedly took place around the Yoyo Plaza axis, a section known for mobile phone trading activities within the Kano metropolis.
Sources said the attackers, believed to be youths, dispossessed traders, customers, and passersby of mobile phones and other valuables during the operation.
The Chairman of the market, Jamilu Bala Gama, said the incident happened around 1:25 p.m., adding that the violence spread to nearby trading hubs, including City Centre and New Dubai.
“They were many, about 200 or even more. They attacked innocent people and marketers, injuring them and stealing their property,” Gama alleged.
He added that traders were forced to shut down their shops and flee for safety as the attackers remained in the area for a while.
“We plan to take legal action against politicians generating tension in our markets by moving around with hoodlums,” he said.
Gama also alleged that police officers who responded to the distress call were attacked, with some sustaining injuries during the incident.
An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attackers appeared to have emerged from a nearby political gathering.
“The way they came, it looked like they were coming from a rally. They were chanting and suddenly started attacking people and taking their phones,” the source said.
Another resident, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, described the scene as “terrifying,” adding that traders abandoned their goods and ran for safety.
“There was panic everywhere. People were screaming and running. Nobody could stop them at that moment,” the source said.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official confirmation of casualties, but several persons were said to have sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Kano State Police Command, Abdullahi Haruna, were unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent to him were not returned.
