Police, NNPP Trade Blame over Killing of Footballer in Kano

Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano

War of words erupted between the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the police over the alleged killing of a footballer by police inspector at Kurnar Asabe, Fagge Local Government Council in the metropolis.

It was alleged that the inspector opened fire on the footballer, popularly known as Salisu Rabiu Player, during a clash between two rival groups on Tuesday.

While the police attributed the incident to a rivalry clash between the two groups, the NNPP said that the footballer was killed by the police during a peaceful protest against the sacking of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf by the Appeal Court.

According to the police’s Spokesperson, Mr. Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, the command has arrested the inspector for orderly room trial.

Kiyawa said: “It is in the forgoing development that the Commissioner of Police, CP. Mohammed Usaini Gumel, directed the Area Commander of Dala, ACP. Nuhu Mohammed, Digi, to fish out the erring police inspector and to constitute a board of inquiry into the cause of the incident of which the outcome will be communicated to the public.”

He pointed out that the police inspector has since been arrested and is now in Police custody. 

“The police command is following up on the unfortunate development that occurred in Kurna Quarters, Fagge LGA, Kano State, on November 28, 2023, where groups of rival restive youths engaged in fighting.

“A police inspector who did not receive any command from the existing chain of command fired a shot and unfortunately wounded two persons with one other person died while receiving treatment at the hospital.

“This action of the police inspector is quite regrettable. This is because, since the assumption of office of the CP, the police have never entered into confrontation with the members of the public talk less of firing gunshots. It is a known fact that the police command is fully committed to the respect of rights and freedom of all people.”

Meanwhile, the NNPP has condemned the killing, which it described as police brutality and called for immediate investigation and respect for human rights.

In a press statement by the National Chairman of NNPP, Mr. Abba Kawu Ali, the party alleged that the victim was one of the three people shot while the others were in critical condition.

Ali said: “The NNPP hereby brings to the attention of Nigerians and the world at large that the Nigeria Police have shot dead a young man, Salisu Player, somewhere around Kurna in Dala Local Government Area of Kano State.

“The NNPP has always asked the citizens to do their protest peacefully and the protest around Kurna where Salisu Player was shot, though spontaneous, was not different.

“It would appear that men of the Nigeria Police are ill-trained for handling even peaceful protests as we regret the recorded death which is painful and unfortunate,” he said.

However, commenting on the NNPP statement, the police spokesperson in the state, Kiyawa said that the position of NNPP was misleading, and warned the general public against politicising the issue.