Shots were said to have been fired to disperse irate youths who blocked one portion of the Kaduna-Kachia Highway in Sabon Tasha, a suburb in Kaduna metropolis over a demolition of a popular recreational facility, Green Apples, owned by former Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurencia Mallam.
The youth who burned tires on the highway were said to have been angered that thugs from a Muslim dominated area carried out the vandalisation of structures within the facility, located at Narayi High Cost, close to Sabon Tasha.
AUTHENTIC News Daily observed that the tension was high and it took a combined team of various Police units, NSCDC and the Army to disperse the youth.
When our team of correspondents visited Green Apple, it was besieged by angry youth who were unhappy about the development.
Speaking to newsmen, Director of Green Apples, Tisam Mallam said that they got the information that those responsible for the vandalisation stormed the premises in about 10 chartered buses, escorted by people dressed in Police uniforms.
“The men dressed in Police uniforms were said to have blocked both portions of the road leading to our premises before the thugs vandalized our premises,” he added.
An eye witness of the incident, Sonia Bature Adama explained that she got a report in the morning at about 5am that hoodlums were demolishing Green Apples.
“They came here with some Policemen and someone claiming to be a court bailiff that they had an order to bring down this premises,” she said.
Ms Adama further explained that what was even worse was the fact that they assaulted the pregnant wife of the Director of Green Apples, an act she described as barbaric and highly irresponsible.
She blamed Barrister Biola Oyebanji for the illegal action, while calling on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to take action and prevent him from further practicing of law in the country for what she described as unethical behavior.
The manager of Green Apples, Mr. Barry, who took newsmen round the premises, said that their offices were broken into and the sales of the previous night was carted away by the intruders.
“Our sales of last night, which we had on record was N480,200 and they made away with it.
“Look at how they burgled the windows of the office and stole it,” he said while pointing at the windows which had been brought down alongside the burglary proof.
Meanwhile, worried by the development, some traders not resident within Sabon Tasha had sought refuge at the Military Outpost in the area for fear of the unknown.
A mobile tailor, Yusuf Hassan Katsina said that during the protest, he lost his sewing machine while escaping to the Military Outpost.
He also showed our correspondent minor injuries recorded during the confusion.
The situation has however been brought under control as normalcy returned and all traders returned to their business premises as at time of filing this report.
Efforts to reach Barrister Oyebanji for comments proved abortive as at the time of filing this report. Calls made to his number were not connected, as it was said to be switched off by network prompt.
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
