Kano bans protests, orders defaulters’ arrest, police to enforce order

The Kano State Government has banned any protest in the state.

This was contained in a statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Tofa, on Wednesday.

The statement read, “By virtue of his position, the governor has directed the police, the Department of State Services, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to apprehend, detain, and prosecute any individual or group partaking in demonstrations on the streets of Kano.

“This decisive action is a pre-emptive strategy aimed at averting any potential breakdown of law and order orchestrated by adversaries of the state.

“We are privy to credible intelligence indicating that certain prominent figures from the opposition party in Kano have devised plans to sponsor student associations and political agitators from other northwestern states to incite chaos under the guise of advocating for the dethroned Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero.

“The state government has explicitly outlawed protests, demonstrations, or processions of any kind, and individuals found on the streets of Kano engaging in such activities will be promptly apprehended.

“Through this declaration, we caution student groups against being manipulated by troublemakers who are resolute in fomenting disorder in Kano.”

Recall that the state High court and a federal high court had gave conflicting orders in Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II and Emir Aminu Bayero.

While the Kano State High Court wanted Sanusi as Emir and Bayero out of the state, the federal court endorsed Bayero and sent Sanusi out of the state.

Meanwhile the state police command said that it would enforce the state government order that banned protests, adding that any person found violating the order would be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.

Already, armed personnel have been deployed to all identified flash points within and outside the metropolis to deal with any form of violation.

A statement on Wednesday by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna said the police had placed its fully kitted and equipped personnel on red alert to deal ruthlessly with the situation, adding that any form of security threats in the state would not be tolerated.

It added, “In the same vein, the Police Command has placed its fully kitted, equipped and motivated personnel on ‘red alerts’ to ruthlessly deal with the situation as any form of security threats in the State would not be tolerated.

“On this note, the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel, calls on the law-abiding people of the State to remain patriotic, obey the Kano State Government Order, maintain calmness and avoid any other form of unlawful activities that may trigger violence.”

The command spokesman said joint security forces had been dispatched to strategic locations to safeguard the peace and order throughout the state.