Barely one week to leave office, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has demolished multi-million-naira structures belonging to followers of Sheikh Ibrahim el-Zakzaky known as Shi’ites.
The demolition was reportedly carried out on Sunday by operatives of the Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KASUPDA), on the excuse that the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (INM) otherwise known as Shi’ites had been banned in the state.
According to a Vanguard report, the structures demolished include schools, a hospital and a private residence. The six structures were located in Kawo, Rigasa, Tudun Wada and Ungwan Rimi.
Security personnel were used to drive out the occupants of the buildings before the demolition.
According to the report, the agency had sought further approval from Governor El-Rufai to carry out the demolition of 48 structures belonging to the Zakzaky-led Islamic Movement across the state.
Meanwhile, the Shi’ite movement has warned that El-Rufai is pushing the members to the wall by demolishing their structures.
Briefing journalists, a Shi’ite leader, Yunusa Lawal, condemned the demolition of their properties worth tens of millions, describing it as illegal and vindictive.