Kano protests leave small businesses in ruins, hearts broken

In the midst of the ongoing nationwide protests in Nigeria, Kano has witnessed a significant surge in looting and violence, severely impacting small businesses across the city. The demonstrations, initially aimed at addressing issues such as poor infrastructure and economic hardship, have taken a destructive turn, with protestors targeting local shops and establishments.

The chaos erupted early in the day, with reports of widespread vandalism and theft. Many small business owners have been left devastated as their livelihoods were ransacked, and goods worth millions were stolen. The authorities have struggled to maintain order, as the sheer scale of the unrest has overwhelmed local law enforcement.

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The Kano State Police Command has apprehended some criminals who exploited Thursday’s protests as a cover for their malicious activities. A press statement by the Command’s Spokesman Abdullahi Haruna said the thugs engaged in acts of violence, destruction, looting, and causing harm to innocent civilians, resulting in the damage of public and private properties.

In a swift response to these criminal activities, a total of 269 suspects responsible for destruction, looting, and instigating chaos under the guise of the nationwide protest were arrested. “We recovered many jerricans of 25 litres of groundnut oil, a large quantity of stationeries, foodstuffs, and other valuable properties,” Haruna reported. The suspects are currently being held at the Command’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and will be charged in court upon completion of the investigation.

This outbreak of violence underscores the fragility of the economic environment for small businesses in Nigeria. The protestors, frustrated by longstanding grievances including corruption, unemployment, and rising fuel prices, have inadvertently caused further economic distress through these acts of looting and destruction.

One shop owner, who preferred to remain anonymous, described the scene as “utterly devastating.” “They broke into my store, took everything, and destroyed what they couldn’t carry,” he lamented. “I don’t know how we will recover from this.”

The government’s response has been to increase security measures in an attempt to regain control. However, the damage has already been done for many small businesses, which now face the daunting task of rebuilding amidst continued uncertainty and unrest.

As the protests continue, it remains to be seen how the government will address the underlying issues driving this upheaval while also restoring peace and stability to affected communities like Kano