Days to the end of his tenure, the Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has commenced nucturnal demolition of properties belonging to members of Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky-led Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, across the state.
DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that the properties are among the 48 marked for demolition by the outgoing governor.
In a leaked memo addressed to the governor and dated April 20, the director general of Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority, KASUPDA, Ismail Umaru-Dikko, sought the governor’s permission to demolish 907 structures across the state.
In the memo which was sighted by DAILY NIGERIAN, some of the reasons for demolition include encroachment, urban renewal upgrades, and non-compliance with the Special Regularisation Programme.
Confirming the incident to DAILY NIGERIAN on Monday, the spokesperson for the IMN, Abdullahi Musa, said government officials led by heavily armed security operatives began the demolition exercise in the early hours of Sunday.
According to him, the structures demolished include schools, hospitals, and residences belonging to their members.
Mr Musa said: “Kaduna State Governor Nasiru El-Rufai attacked and demolished three Islamic schools, one hospital, and some parts of the residence of one Alhaji Musa Birnin Yaro, a follower of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky.
“The three Islamic schools demolished by the outgoing governor on Sunday at around 2:00 am belong to the Islamic movement in Nigeria under the leadership of His Eminence Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky (H).
“They also demolished a hospital called Kawthar Hospital and Maternity.
“A copy of the Holy Qur’an was sighted on the ground in one of the demolished schools as the bulldozer’s operators destroyed everything in the building, not minding the holy books within.
“The three Islamic Schools demolished by the Governor using state resources, security, and equipment are: Fudiyya Nursery, primary and Secondary School Tudun Wada Kaduna, Fudiyya Islamic School Unguwan Rimi, Rigasa Kaduna and Fudiyya Islamic School Dan Madami, Rigasa Kaduna.
“Today being Monday 22nd May, 2023, at around 3:00 am, they went and demolished the residence of one Alhaji Suleiman.
“The residence has an Islamic school where his children and those of his neighbours, most of whom are not members of the Islamic movement, receive teachings.
“They went further to Maraban Jos, where they demolished a registered Fudiyya Nursery and Primary School completely.”
Mr Musa noted that all the schools demolished by the governor were duly registered with the state government.
Spokesman for the governor, Muyiwa Adekeye, did not respond to DAILY NIGERIAN calls nor reply to an SMS seeking government’s reaction on the matter.
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