MADUABUCHI NMERIBEH/Kano

Suspected killers of 27-year old Bashir Shehu, a student of Federal University of Education, Kano, were among dozens of Yandabas (bandits) paraded at the Bompai Headquarters of Kano state Police Command, Northwest Nigeria on Monday.

On 9 July, bandits popularly known as Yandabas invaded a class room in Rumfa College where Bashir and his class mates were having group discussion, maiming everyone on sight.

According to Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, ASP Magaji Musa Majia, the hoodlums who stormed the school at about 10 p.m. were, “a gang of notorious Yandabas jointly from Gandun Albasa, Dan Agundi and Tukuntawa areas of Kano metropolis.”

He added that, “they suddenly invaded the classroom and attacked them with cutlasses, knives, clubs and other dangerous weapons. They inflicted various degrees of injuries on Bashir’s head, chest and all over his body.

“They also broke his leg and abandoned him in his pool of blood. The gang further went on rampage and attacked MASCO Mechanic garage located at Gandun Albasa and damaged the windscreen and bodies of more than 30 motor vehicles brought for repairs. The Yandabas went further and killed even animals on sight. For instance, dogs, hens and even branches of trees were cut down with sword and machetes.”

Working with information from discernable Nigerians resident within the areas alerted the police and a special police squad led by Mawuya Abubakar, O/C in charge of Strike Force/Daba Operation moved into the area, controlled the situation and moved the body of Bashir to a Kano hospital where he later died.

Those arrested for the killing of Bashir include Ibrahim Mu’azu alias Iro-Dawa of Dan Agundi Quarters, Adamu Abdullahi alias Kura of Tukuntawa quarters and Muktari Hassan alias Gwari of Gandun Albasa quarters.

The suspects who police authorities described as “notorious criminals and hired assassins” also mentioned the names of 13 others linked with the Rumfa College disturbances.

Majia urged Kano residents to remain on alert and report activities of Yandabas and criminals within their areas, promising that Police in the state will not tolerate criminals activities and acts of violence targeted to responsible Nigerians living in the state.

The Police image-maker said in less than one month, the Command arrested over 100 Yandabas, adding that 88 among them have been prosecuted with 46 bagging one year imprisonment, while 42 were slammed six months without option of fine.