Kano’s Ugly Face of Human Brutalities -By Abdu Abdullahi

Beyond its unflinching popularity of being a commercial hub, a famous center for both Islamic and modern education, cultural fulfilment and the reputable name it has earned for progressive politics, Kano is now sadly redefined and ruled by spontaneous episodes of human carnage.

In the last five years, it has witnessed many great tragedies in which gruesome murders of innocent people by heartless elements have reshaped the public consciousness of her citizens from the arena of social responsibility to outrageous rascality.It has been converted into a monstrous theatre for human carnage in which harmless souls are traded as cheap commodities and unworthy for proper preservation but utter destruction to uplift the banner of evil practices. Consequently, the casualties have been growing and extending beyond ordinary imagination. However, the best we can do is to conduct mourning rituals, condemn the assassination, until the next horrific occurrence when the voices of resentment and language of sympathy are raised again.

In February 2021, a lovely and charming kid, Hanifa Abubakar, was clandestinely abducted by her school proprietor, mercilessly poisoned to death, her beautiful and fragile body mutilated. In the end, he betrayed the parental trust reposed on him for her care, support and safety. That evil design was crudely inspired and ill-motivated by the insatiable infatuation for money accumulation. In 2022, a young and ambitious lady, Ummita, was brutally stabbed to death in her bedroom by a Chinese who was blindly on a vengeance mission because of what he termed as the betrayal of love and compassion. Several and similar human atrocities have looted the hard-earned honour of Kano’s fame.

Despite the court’s ruling of passing death sentences, till date, the convicted persons in all the instances are yet to be executed to serve as a deterrent to others. Could this be a criminal license for the further perpetuation of these ungodly acts? Who is going to liberate the indefatigable justice from the shackles of the hateful injustice ? Who is sympathizing with evils to be our common civilization in the 21st century of technological advancement? Peace and order will remain invisible and illusive as long as unrepentant criminals are not awarded the retribution they deserve.

Recently, a daylight mass murder was unleashed on innocent souls at Chiranchi Quarters of Kano City. A cheerful mother with her six loving children were cruelly butchered in their family house by a gang of marauding assassins. The brutish massacre of that entire family was an effective and efficient reminiscence of the Maitatsine uprising of the 1980’s which engulfed and devastated Kano, putting it asunder in flames.

Concerning the recent killings in kano, more disheartening was the active involvement of a blood relation of the murdered housewife. Disgustingly, he had confessed to committing similar atrocities in the past. This prime suspect and his deadly companions represent the villains of our generation. Their living is as poisonous as the snake. The greatest question still remains unanswered: What was the devilish motive behind that brutal assassination of even a two year child of the massacred family? This unequivocal question will continue to echo and agitate the mind until sacred facts are laid bare and justice takes the lead position.

Unfortunately, the latest barbarian act in Kano was executed not in a remote area but in the heart of a populated and urban settlement. As I am writing this, the cry for justice in favour of the deceased is gradually vanishing. Who is afraid of justice order? Delayed justice is also like a criminal offence. It is very frightening and frustrating to observe that Kano is undergoing the process of social dislocation. It is being dislocated by the rise and practices of ‘professional’ murderers. To halt this chronic disease from spreading further, a social reassessment and reconstruction in relation to social stability and tranquility are urgently desirable. For instance, is substance abuse the driving factor of the last scene of terror at Chiranchi? If the answer is positive, then we should know how to attack the real disease and save Kano from further embarrassment.

Haruna Bashir, the unfortunate husband and father of the deceased, will never be the same again as he will be tormented by psychological instability. So far, he is the most oppressed and traumatized Nigerian of the year 2026. As I am writing this, the sum of 25, 000,000,00 has been donated to him to pacify the agony that is putting him asunder. More willing donations are forthcoming. But then, can material comforts and benefits redeem the broken heart of Haruna? How many years will it take him to regain the family that he has lost?

For now, his heart is on the verge of disintegration. To rescue and strengthen it, the only panacea is bringing the culprits to book. In fact, we are waiting and seeing if this unprecedented felony of homicide will be given the judicial intervention it deserves. Any society that tolerates murderousness cannot boast of the rule of law and unfit for the purpose of human dignity. We must give law the esteemed value it deserves so that moral power becomes a strong institution of human discipline, respect and responsibility.

Let us all say it loudly and clearly!Enough is enough for the senseless killings that have taken over the social development and security of Kano!

Abdu Abdullahi
aaringim68@gmail.com
07036207998