Hundreds of non-indigenes residing in the commercial city of Kano and its neighbourhood have massively left the city for their various states of origin in the South-South and South-eastern parts of the country for fear of election violence.The popular motor park at Sabon Gari witnessed increasing traffic of passengers leaving the state to the East and South-South part for fear of the election outcome and houses of non-indigenes residing at Sabon Gari, Badawa, Kawo and other areas of the metropolis were locked after they fled the city.
The fleeing non-indigenes noted that they are always targets of any attack by their host community of Kano anytime there is tension.
Our correspondent also observed that the railway station in Kano is busy with passengers who loaded their belongings in the process of fleeing the city, while those who own cars travelled out with their families to their respective states.
Mrs Agnes Onyema, an Igbo trader from Abia state, said her neighbours had fled the state for fear of violence, while their community in Sabon Gari who are from different parts of the country have left the city.
In his appeal to non-indigenes, state Chairman of Christian Association of Nigerian (CAN), Bishop Ransom Bello, urged them to stay in the state and cast their votes for the candidates of their choice.
Bishop Bello assured that the forthcoming general elections will be peaceful, and that security agencies will redouble their efforts to ensure peace in the state.
Similarly, the state police command has assured the non-indigenes of their safety, stating that the government is seriously committed to the peaceful conduct of the general election, pointing out that adequate security has been deployed in the state to protect the lives and properties of the people.
Police spokesman, Assistant superintendent of police (ASP) Musa Magaji Majia urged people to report any suspicious person who will cause trouble to the society, while appealing to people to continue supporting the security agencies towards peace and unity in the state.
