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

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

Daily Trust had reported how some members of the TMG movement kicked against the police action on Sunday.

In a Live video posted on his verified Facebook page, one of the conveners of the movement, Abba Hikima, alleged that about 10 mobile police vehicles had been stationed at the venue of their planned meeting.

He said the action violated their civic rights as citizens of Nigeria, maintaining that the law does not require them to obtain any permission before organising their event.

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“You can see already that over 10 vehicles of mobile 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 also accused the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, and the Kano Commissioner of Police, CP Bakori, of allowing politics to interfere with their statutory duties.

But reacting to the development in an interview with DCL Hausa, CP Bakori acknowledged that although the TMG members had the right to convene their meeting, it was important to notify the command to enable it protect them and to avoid any potential threat to peace in the state.

“What happened is that, in the first place, it is their right to come and organise their gathering. Nobody will stop them, and the law does not require them to inform us. However, notifying us is important because it allows us to regulate the event and ensure there is no tension, that nobody attacks them and that they do not engage in any activity in Kano that can constitute an offence.

“Last night, I saw on social media that they were planning to organise a gathering. I called Barrister Hikima and asked him what was happening. He told me it was a meeting they intended to hold.

“I told him it was important for them to notify us so that we could provide security for them and the people of Kano State. We did not know the nature of the gathering, especially as they said about 700 people would attend.

“If 700 people are coming into Kano, we need to know the details. This is not the first time political groups from different parties have organised activities in the state. They usually write to us, and we provide security for them.

“I asked him to postpone the meeting and come so we could discuss the matter. He said he would consult others and get back to me. I called him several times afterwards, but he did not answer.

“If anything happens, it will create tension among residents and those coming into Kano. We need to know who is coming into the state and the nature of the gathering. These are necessary arrangements for security purposes.

Bakori said they were concerned about the event, given the number of people it would attract, insisting that it was therefore necessary to establish some facts to ensure adequate security for the members of the movement and the residents of Kano State.

Asked whether the police had any hint as to whether the 700 people coming for the event had criminal records, Bakori said the Command was taking proactive measures to avoid potential threat to peace, citing a recent incident in Sabon Gari where, according to him, weapons were seized from some people who claimed to have come into Kano for a political event.

“We were concerned about another gathering that was expected to attract about 700 people. We did not know who they were or where they would stay. We need to protect them and the residents of the state. That is what happened.

“Two weeks ago, some people came to Sabon Gari claiming they were there for political activities. We seized weapons, arrested some of them, and we are still investigating the matter.

“We saw on social media that they were coming, and we recalled what happened two weeks ago in Sabon Gari. Even though you have the right to do something, your right ends where another person’s right begins.

“This is a simple matter that could be resolved through discussion to ensure the safety of everyone, including 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, however, dismissed claims of link with any political parties, saying the Command was only doing its duties of ensuring peace and security in Kano.

“You cannot stop people from expressing their views. If you ask him how many times he has come to my office with complaints, you will find out that we have investigated them and taken appropriate action, including punishing those responsible.

“There is nothing political about this. It is about understanding the situation and protecting the people of Kano State and Nigeria.

“We do not prevent people from organising events. Even he has informed us about their activities on several occasions, and we provided security, ensuring that the events 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.