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NIGERIA: TAXI DRIVERS CLASH WITH POLICE December 17, 2005
Kizza Hajarah
(SomaliNet) Taxi-drivers fought with Islamic police in Kano city, Nigeria. This was after authorities started enforcing a law banning women from being carried on bikes. Angry drivers attacked police with clubs and stones.
At least 11 people were injured in the Thursday clashes.
The rule is part of Islamic legislation introduced in 2004. Over 9000 soldiers have been patrolling the city implementing it.
"Most of our passengers are women who pay better fares than men. This ban will further dwindle our meagre income as we will not get much patronage," said Lawal Sa'id, a disgruntled driver.
Angry motorcyclistsalso destroyed many of the 500 public tricycles provided by the government for women commuters.
Despite the violence, police is not to be intimidated."No amount of intimidation and lawlessness will deter us from carrying out this noble duty of stopping women from riding on achaba," said Yahaya Farouk Chedi, head of the religious police.
Kano is one of Muslim northern states to re-adopt the sharia legal system since 1999.