An illegal horse-riding celebration in Kano State has ended in tragedy following the brutal killing of a popular Islamic scholar and technology expert, Alaramma Jabir Lawan Abdullahi.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the Islamic scholar died shortly after he was stabbed multiple times by suspected thugs during the event, which took place on Saturday near the Gidan Sarki area of the state.
The celebration, known locally as Kilisa, is traditionally reserved for the royal family.
However, the Kano State Police Command confirmed to our correspondent on Monday that the gathering was unauthorised.
Initial reports suggested that the scholar was killed by suspected phone snatchers while commuting in a tricycle caught in heavy traffic.
Reports claimed the attackers approached under the pretence of stealing his phone but ended up stabbing him multiple times before fleeing the scene.
However, in a telephone interview with PUNCH Metro on Monday, the spokesperson for the Kano State Police Command, Haruna Abdullahi, clarified that the killing was not related to phone theft.
“It is not an issue of phone snatching. The incident happened during illegal horse riding. They call it Kilisa. Some hoodlums and thugs often infiltrate this celebration.
“This horse riding attracts thugs. It was during this event that the suspects approached him and stabbed him,” Abdullahi said.
Abdullahi assured the public that the police were actively investigating the case and working to bring the perpetrators to justice.
He added that several suspects, along with four horses, were already in police custody.
“I don’t have the number of those arrested, but some suspects along with four horses are in police custody,” Abdullahi added.
In a similar incident in 2021, two elderly brothers were allegedly killed during a horse riding event in Kano.
The victims, Inuwa Sani and Abdurrahman Sani, both residents of Yakasai Quarters, were reportedly trampled by horses being ridden recklessly during the celebration.(Punch)
