A group of widows in Kano have called on Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to come to their aid following ongoing construction on their land after their shops were demolished.
Christiana John, a widow and a mother of four who spoke on behalf of eight others, comprising five widows and three widowers, said, their shops located at Agangara, Badawa, Nassarawa L.G.A of the State were demolished by both officials from the State Hisbah Board and Mobs allegedly led by the District Head (Mai Unguwa) Mal. Umar Kasim.
According to her, efforts to salvage the situation proved abortive as they were informed verbally that the Ganuje’s administration had confiscated their land without any official documents of revocation.
“We bought this land as far back as 1995 and built our shops where we have been carrying out our businesses.
“We woke up one day to see Hisbah Officials invading our business premises, destroying our shops that a report was made against us and the mai Unguwa also later led a group of mob who completed the demolition and stealing of our properties.
“Our gates, windows, zings and other valuables were all carted away as we watched and wailed helplessly.
After all efforts, we were informed verbally that the government has revoked our ownership of the land without any documents to confirm that”.
Christiana who spoked in tears added that to their greatest surprise, a contractor appeared at the site about a year ago erecting a structure on their land despite being the rightful owners of the plot without anyone being compensated.
“After all the back and forth, the extortion and fake promises here and there, a contractor came last year (2024) and is now building a new structure on our land”.
From what we found out, the State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA) is the agency handling the project.
“We are a group of vulnerable people in the society. We don’t know
if the present Governor, a man of compassion and wisdom is aware of the real situation.
“We are appealing to Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf to consider our plight and come to our aid. We are stranded, struggling to feed our kids without any support.
“Our shops are gone, the land is all we have left. Please, don’t leave us without nothing to fall back on. If the government is taking back the land, please compensate us,” she pleaded.
When contacted, the spokesperson of KNUPDA Bahijja Kabara said “It is true, I know the case but it happened during the previous administration”.
She further added that KNUPDA is building ultramodern shops at the location.
