Thugs set court ablaze in Kano

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

Some yet- to- be identified thugs, went on rampage yesterday, in Kano, torching a Magistrate Court, located in Koki area of Municipal local government area in the state.

The incident happened at the wee hours, when over 30 suspected thugs stormed the court’s building, brandishing weapons and set it ablaze.

According to the court’s security guard, the suspected thugs invaded the court’s building around 4:00am, as he woke up to prepare for early morning prayer, adding that he quickly took to his heels when they started pelting him with stones, before they set the court ablaze.

“The thugs, over thirty of them, appeared around 4:00am when I woke up for early morning prayer. When they saw me, they started hurling stones at me. As I turned around, I saw two of them approaching me with weapons; others were trying to break the court’s door, while some of them  instantly torched the court’s building, using petroleum. I quickly ran away to avoid being killed, because I was alone”, he said.

Narrating his ordeal, another resident, who sustained injury in the attack, said that he saw the thugs in large number on his way to the mosque, and that they attacked him with their weapons.

“ On my way to the mosque, the thugs  suddenly appeared in front of me, with their head wrapped up. They asked me to give them money; I said I don’t have money. They started searching my pockets and did not find anything. One of them instructed the others to attack me. They started stabbing me until I fell down. Thereafter, I was lucky to run away, despite the blood that was streaming from my head. One of them followed and was beating me with a club until I managed to escape”, he stated.

Meanwhile, residents of the area, lamented late arrival of the Police officers of Jakara Police Division, which is their area of operation, asserting that they would have foiled the attack if they had arrived immediately they were informed about the attack.

A resident, who pleaded for anonymity, said the thugs were suspected to be from Jakara Area in the Municipal Local Government, alleging that the area is notable for prevalence of thugs.

Our reporter gathered that the irate thugs might have carried out attack because the magistrate was said to have shown no leniency in judging thuggery and drug cases.

When contacted, acting Kano state Police Public Relation Officer, DSP Mustapha Abubakar, confirmed the incident, adding that the Police have commenced investigation into the matter.

He also cleared the air on the allegation of late arrival of the Police attached to Jakara Police Division, stating that the report available to them was that his men reported to the scene immediately after they were informed of the incident.