The Kano State Police Command has warned members of the New Nigeria Peoples Party and the All Progressives Congress in the state against Saturday’s planned protest saying it will deal ruthlessly with anyone that violated the order.
The warning was contained in a statement on Friday by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna, on behalf of the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Husaini Gumel, and made available to newsmen.
Both the NNPP and APC were said to have mobilised their supporters to organise protests on Saturday to express their views on the recent ruling of the Appeal Court in Abuja which declared a controversial judgment on the governorship election judgment.
However, the decision of both parties, since the announcement, has created apprehension in the minds of residents of the state on the premise that such protests scheduled for the same day may cause untold hardship to the teeming masses of the state.
The statement read, “Credible information at the command’s disposal revealed that some groups of people claiming to be political party supporters of both the NNPP and the APC are using various media platforms and mobilising people and planning to enter the streets on Saturday, November 25, 2023, to stage protest against the Kano State Governorship Appeal Court’s verdict.
”The information further revealed that the intention of the protesters is to shut down the state and attack prominent political party opponents; an action which may likely result in violence.
”At this juncture, the police command is making it categorically clear that no formal notice was received from any of these political parties about the plan to conduct any protest or gathering,
”The police command is issuing this warning to all residents of the state to be extra careful as whoever intends to conduct any protest or procession should do so only in accordance with the provisions of the law.
“Furthermore, the position of the law is very clear, whoever attempts to disrupt the peace in the state will be arrested and made to face the wrath of the law.”
The PUNCH reports that before and after the Kano State Governorship Court of Appeal ruling, the leaderships of both the NNPP and the APC had signed peace accord before the state police command where both buttressed their stand of working with the security agencies for the promotion of peace.
The police statement added, “The Commissioner of Police, Kano State Police Command, CP Mohammed Gumel, FIPMA, on all residents to maintain calmness and avoid any form of unlawful gathering, protest, or procession that may trigger violence as joint security forces have since been dispatched to strategic locations to safeguard peace and order throughout the state.”
