There was a violent clash in Kano State on Monday as an enraged mob of youths took to the streets burning a police station, with the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) reportedly dead.
The confrontation took place in the Fagge area of the state, where there had been rising tensions between the police officers and locals over allegations of misbehavior. Witnesses clarified that the confrontation started when security agents tried to break up a crowd, leading to a fierce reaction from the youths.
In the chaos, demonstrators broke into the police department, set the building ablaze, and trashed a number of patrol vehicles. Flames and smoke filled the air as officers fled in terror.
The DPO, whose name was not released when reported, is said to have been trapped within the building during the attack. Although it is said that he may have escaped, others think that he was among the victims who died in the fire. His whereabouts were unknown as of Monday night.
Police officials confirmed that the station was indeed stormed but that they were still gathering full details. One of them stated, “We are trying to get the situation under control and trace those responsible.”
Some residents claimed the violence erupted after receiving reports of police harassment and a fight between police officers and teenagers. This soon escalated into an even greater issue, with more participating in the action and things getting totally out of hand.
Local authorities called for calm and urged the state government to investigate the motive of the attack. Local leaders also called for locals not to take the law into their own hands.
Security has been increased in the area, with armed men being deployed to prevent more violence. Local shops and schools were shut down, and most families stayed indoors in fear of being attacked again.
This is the most recent in a series of encounters between security personnel and civilians in Nigeria, one that presents new issues of trust, accountability, and police-public relations.
