Protester Shot Dead in Kano as Demonstrators Block Highway Over Bandit Attacks

At least one person was shot dead on Sunday when protesters blocked the strategic Kano-Katsina highway at the Dayi-Gwarzo corridor over relentless bandit attacks, extortion, and worsening insecurity in their border communities. The protesters won't back down until their demands are met.

The demonstration erupted between noon and 1:00 p.m. at the border between Gwarzo Local Government Area in Kano State and Malumfashi Local Government Area in Katsina State. The protesters erected barricades and chanted slogans. They warned travellers to turn back, declaring the vital interstate route would remain closed. Hundreds of commuters and motorists were left stranded because they can't travel through the blocked highway.

The blockade was still in force when a PREMIUM TIMES reporter travelling to Kano was forced to turn back after protesters refused to allow vehicles through. The situation later turned deadly. Security operatives deployed to disperse the crowd and restore order reportedly fired warning shots. One protester was allegedly killed by accidental discharge during the chaos.

“Yesterday alone, they came and killed three of our people,” a youth leader at the protest scene explained. “For the past week, these criminals have been attacking us regularly in broad daylight. They ride into our neighbourhoods on motorcycles and operate with complete impunity. They steal our livestock in large numbers.”

The Kano State Police Command spokesperson, Abdullahi Kiyawa, confirmed that security authorities were engaging community leaders to de-escalate the situation. “We are engaging with the community,” Mr Kiyawa said in a phone interview on Sunday. He didn't confirm whether normalcy had been restored, but he said consultations with stakeholders were ongoing. They're working to find a solution to the crisis.

Residents accused security agencies of responding slowly to distress calls. “A thief will come to your doorstep at four in the afternoon to steal cattle, and when you call for help, nobody shows up until 8:00 p.m.,” one resident said. “We can't go to our farms or protect our schools. We're being starved in our own communities.” They're struggling to survive due to the lack of security.

The Dayi-Gwarzo axis is a critical economic and transit corridor in Nigeria’s North-west. It's a key route for commuters and traders. Community leaders warned that the blockade could continue until concrete security measures, including permanent military checkpoints, are provided. Commuters travelling between Kano and Katsina, Zamfara, or Sokoto are advised to suspend journeys along this route or seek safer alternatives as tensions remain high. They won't travel through the area until it's safe.

The protests were sparked by recent bandit attacks in the area, particularly in Lakwoya, a major border community in Gwarzo LGA. Residents said heavily armed bandits recently invaded the area, killing three people, destroying property, extorting money, and stealing large numbers of livestock. Frustrated victims marched from Lakwaya to the Gwarzo Local Government headquarters to demand better security. They're desperate for a solution to the crisis.

Tensions escalated further when protesters, dissatisfied with the chairman’s response, set fire to his administrative office, the LG Secretariat. The violence triggered panic in Gwarzo town, where businesses shut down and many residents and non-indigenes fled. “Everyone is locking up because nobody knows what will happen next,” a stranded commuter said. “The protesters feel they have nothing left to lose, but those of us with businesses here are terrified.” They're worried about their safety and livelihoods.

As the situation continues to unfold, it's clear that the people of Gwarzo and surrounding areas are desperate for a solution to the bandit attacks that have plagued their communities. The government hasn't provided a long-term solution yet. With the blockade still in place, the government will have to respond to the crisis and provide the necessary security measures to restore peace to the area. They can't ignore the protesters' demands.