Governor El-Rufai demolishes Shi’ites’ structures in Kaduna

 

Six structures across Kaduna town and environs belonging to followers of Sheikh Ibrahim el-Zakzaky, known as Shi’ites, have been demolished by operatives of the Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KASUPDA).

 

Yunusa Lawal, while briefing newsmen on Sunday in Kaduna, explained that the structures demolished include schools, a hospital and a private residence, among others.

 

According to him, Governor Nasir el-Rufai has pushed the movement to the wall by demolishing their structures since 2015.

 

KASUPDA carried out the demolition in Kawo, Rigasa, Tudun Wada and Ungwan Rimi, using security personnel to chase out the occupants of the buildings belonging to Shi’ites.

 

Yunusa Lawal lamented, “We’re being pushed to the wall.”

 

He further explained that the demolition was not only illegal but vindictive, as the only reason given by the government was that their movement was banned.

 

The spokesman said that they were never served with any notice to know the reason for the demolition, stressing that they do not know the location of the remaining 42 structures they planned to demolish.

 

He added that the only reason they saw in the leaked memo is that they are a proscribed movement, but said that they are a religious community and cannot be banned.

 

He said they cannot fold their arms as they are bonafide citizens of Nigeria, stressing, “el-Rufai is not a better citizen than us.”