Tension erupted in Azare, the headquarters of Katagum Local Government Area in Bauchi State, on Tuesday after dozens of shops at the Old Trailer Park along Maiduguri Road were demolished, leaving small business owners with significant losses.

Traders accused Katagum LG Chairman Yusuf Babayo Zaki of ordering the demolition, alleging that the operation was carried out with the active involvement of the Divisional Police Officer, Mohammed Sani.

The demolished shops were located at a key transit point on the Kano–Maiduguri route, frequently used as a stopover for trucks. According to local sources, the land is set to be allocated for a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) station, reportedly linked to a contractor or the Dangote Group, aimed at serving trucks traveling to the North-East.

Residents expressed concerns about potential conflict of interest, noting that the council chairman is related to Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed. They highlighted that the site’s proximity to major institutions, including the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare (FUHSA), its teaching hospital, Aminu Saleh College of Education, and dense residential quarters poses a serious safety risk, particularly in case of a fire outbreak.

Witnesses described shop owners’ attempts to resist the demolition, but they were overpowered by security personnel. Video footage from the site shows heavy machinery in operation while property owners were prevented from salvaging belongings. Estimates indicate that properties worth about ₦100 million were destroyed during the demolition of dozens of shops.

Efforts to reach the Dangote Group for comment were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.