Four Civilians Shot as NDLEA Officers Open Fire Near Kano Market

Four persons have been reportedly wounded after officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) allegedly opened fire in a densely populated area around a market and the Murtala Muhammad Hospital axis of Kano, sparking outrage among residents.

Eyewitnesses said the victims comprise one man and three women, including a young girl and a married woman — none of whom, according to accounts on the ground, were involved in any form of confrontation or criminal activity at the time of the shooting.

Local reports indicate that the injured were either pedestrians passing through the area or residents who were simply seated outside their homes when the gunfire erupted. All four victims were swiftly rushed to the emergency unit of the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, where medical personnel were working to extract bullets and stabilise their conditions.

The circumstances that led to the shooting remain unclear, and NDLEA authorities had yet to issue any official statement on the incident as of the time of filing this report. No explanation has been provided for why officers discharged their weapons in a civilian-heavy environment.

The incident has triggered widespread anger in the community, with residents calling for an immediate investigation and accountability from the agency over what many are describing as a reckless and unjustifiable use of lethal force against unarmed civilians.