Two years after the #EndBadGovernance protests in Kano, victims and their families are still waiting for compensation promised by the state government.
The protests, held from August 1 to 10, 2024, were organised over the rising cost of living, which was linked to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s removal of petrol subsidy and floating of the naira.
Kano recorded 12 deaths, the highest number nationwide. Security agents deployed to control the protests were accused of shooting some victims.
Muhammad Alhassan, a resident of Daurawa in Koki, was among those injured. A bullet remains lodged near his heart.
“We were watching the protest from our street when the police fired shots. A bullet hit my friend, Ali, in the head. He died later in hospital. We ran, but I too was shot. The bullet is still in my body,” he said.
Doctors at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital initially advised against removing the bullet because of possible damage to his central nervous system.
“They told me it was not yet the right time. Now, Alhamdulillah, I am recovering, and they say it can be removed. But I cannot afford the surgery,” Alhassan said.
He said government officials promised compensation and medical support but have stopped responding to his calls.
“I am in severe pain. I cannot run, sleep well, or move properly. The bullet is near my heart. We are mostly poor, and I am begging the government to rescue us,” he said.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s Justice Lawal Wada Commission submitted its report in January 2025, recommending compensation and prosecutions.
Abdulkadir A. Balarabe, the governor’s Special Adviser on Humanitarian Affairs, admitted the delay.
“You know how government matters are. There are thousands of such issues before them. The governor has given us approval to proceed, but we want to handle it thoroughly. Very soon, God willing, they will hear from us,” he said.
Daily Trust
