‘We Wanted to Protect Them’, CP Reacts to Blockade of Anti-Tinubu Meeting in Kano – Daily Trust

The Kano State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, has reacted to the police blockade of the venue of the ‘Tinubu Must Go’ (TMG) assembly in Kano, saying the Command was involved concerning the security of the members and residents of the state.

Daily Trust had reported how some members of the TMG motion kicked towards the police motion on Sunday.

In a Live video posted on his verified Facebook web page, one of the conveners of the motion, Abba Hikima, alleged that about 10 cell police autos had been stationed on the venue of their deliberate assembly.

He stated the motion violated their civic rights as residents of Nigeria, sustaining that the regulation doesn’t require them to acquire any permission earlier than organising their occasion.

“You can see already that over 10 autos of cell police have been stationed.

“They have been stationed here in order to prevent us from accessing the private venue which we paid for; we are to gather here to exercise our civic rights… This is even the more reason why Tinubu must go.”

“The Court of Appeal decision stands. I do not need to inform any security agent to hold my rallies. Next time, we are going to protest; Next time we are going to demonstrate; next time we are going to hit the ground.” he added.

Hikima additionally accused the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, and the Kano Commissioner of Police, CP Bakori, of permitting politics to intervene with their statutory duties.

But reacting to the event in an interview with DCL Hausa, CP Bakori acknowledged that though the TMG members had the proper to convene their assembly, it was essential to notify the command to allow it defend them and to keep away from any potential risk to peace in the state.

“What occurred is that, in the primary place, it’s their proper to come and organise their gathering. Nobody will cease them, and the regulation doesn’t require them to inform us. However, notifying us is essential as a result of it permits us to regulate the occasion and guarantee there is no such thing as a pressure, that no person assaults them and that they don’t interact in any exercise in Kano that may represent an offence.

“Last night time, I noticed on social media that they have been planning to organise a gathering. I known as Barrister Hikima and requested him what was occurring. He informed me it was a gathering they meant to maintain.

“I informed him it was essential for them to notify us in order that we might present safety for them and the folks of Kano State. We didn’t know the character of the gathering, particularly as they stated about 700 folks would attend.

“If 700 individuals are coming into Kano, we want to know the main points. This just isn’t the primary time political teams from completely different events have organised actions in the state. They often write to us, and we offer safety for them.

“I requested him to postpone the assembly and are available so we might talk about the matter. He stated he would seek the advice of others and get again to me. I known as him a number of occasions afterwards, however he didn’t reply.

“If something occurs, it should create pressure amongst residents and people coming into Kano. We want to know who’s coming into the state and the character of the gathering. These are essential preparations for safety functions.

Bakori stated they have been involved concerning the occasion, given the quantity of folks it might appeal to, insisting that it was due to this fact essential to set up some info to guarantee ample safety for the members of the motion and the residents of Kano State.

Asked whether or not the police had any trace as to whether or not the 700 folks coming for the occasion had felony data, Bakori stated the Command was taking proactive measures to keep away from potential risk to peace, citing a current incident in Sabon Gari the place, in accordance to him, weapons have been seized from some individuals who claimed to have come into Kano for a political occasion.

“We have been involved about one other gathering that was anticipated to appeal to about 700 folks. We didn’t know who they have been or the place they’d keep. We want to defend them and the residents of the state. That is what occurred.

“Two weeks in the past, some folks got here to Sabon Gari claiming they have been there for political actions. We seized weapons, arrested some of them, and we’re nonetheless investigating the matter.

“We noticed on social media that they have been coming, and we recalled what occurred two weeks in the past in Sabon Gari. Even although you’ve the proper to do one thing, your proper ends the place one other individual’s proper begins.

“This is a straightforward matter that may very well be resolved via dialogue to guarantee the protection of everybody, together with the organisers and their members.

“We are not aware of the nature of the gathering. All we asked was for him to come so we could discuss it and understand the type of event in order to provide protection for them and the people of the state.”

Bakori, nonetheless, dismissed claims of hyperlink with any political events, saying the Command was solely doing its duties of making certain peace and safety in Kano.

“You can not cease folks from expressing their views. If you ask him what number of occasions he has come to my workplace with complaints, you’ll find out that we now have investigated them and brought acceptable motion, together with punishing these accountable.

“There is nothing political about this. It is about understanding the scenario and defending the folks of Kano State and Nigeria.

“We don’t forestall folks from organising occasions. Even he has knowledgeable us about their actions on a number of events, and we supplied safety, making certain that the occasions ended peacefully.

“Our advice is that he should have informed us so we could provide security for the organisers and the people of Kano State. We are all working for the people.” Bakori added.