From Garba Abdullahi Bagwai, in Kano
The Kano State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, has defended the police blockade of the venue of a planned meeting by the Tinubu Must Go (TMG) movement in Kano, saying the Command acted out of concern for the safety of the organisers, participants and residents of the state.
Some members of the movement criticised the police action on Sunday, describing it as a violation of their civic rights.
Speaking to journalists, the convener of the movement, Abba Hikima, alleged that about 10 police mobile units had been stationed at the venue to prevent members from accessing the private facility they had booked for the meeting.
He maintained that the gathering was a lawful exercise of their civic rights and that the law did not require them to obtain permission from security agencies before holding such an event.
“You can see already that over 10 vehicles of mobile police have been stationed here 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 more reason why Tinubu must go,” Hikima said.
He added that the movement would consider holding protests and demonstrations in the future.
“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 said.
Hikima also accused the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, and the Kano State Commissioner of Police of allowing political considerations to interfere with their statutory responsibilities.
However, reacting to the development in an interview with an online media outlet, CP Bakori acknowledged that the TMG members had the right to organise their meeting but said notifying the police would have enabled the Command to make adequate security arrangements.
He explained that the police did not intend to prevent the group from meeting but wanted to ensure that the gathering did not threaten public peace or expose participants and residents to danger.
“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,” Bakori said.
According to him, he learnt about the planned meeting through social media the night before the event and subsequently contacted Hikima to seek clarification.
He said Hikima informed him that the group intended to hold a meeting, prompting him to request that the organisers notify the Command so that security arrangements could be made.
Bakori said the police were particularly concerned because the organisers reportedly expected about 700 people to attend the gathering.
“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,” he said.
The commissioner said he asked Hikima to postpone the meeting and visit his office for discussions, but the organiser told him he would consult other members of the movement before responding.
Bakori added that he subsequently called Hikima several times but received no response.
He said understanding the nature of the gathering and the arrangements for participants was necessary to prevent possible security breaches and avoid creating tension among residents.
When asked whether the police had intelligence suggesting that the expected participants had criminal records, Bakori said the Command was taking preventive measures based on previous security incidents.
He cited an incident in Sabon Gari about two weeks earlier, alleging that some people who claimed to have travelled to Kano for political activities were found with weapons.
“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,” he said.
Bakori added that the police had seized weapons and arrested some suspects in connection with the earlier incident, noting that investigations were still ongoing.
He said the Command considered the previous incident when assessing the security implications of the planned TMG meeting.
The commissioner stressed that the right to freedom of expression and assembly should be exercised in a manner that did not infringe on the rights and safety of others.
“This is a simple matter that could be resolved through discussion to ensure the safety of everyone, including the organisers and their members,” he said.
Bakori also denied that the police action was politically motivated, insisting that the Command remained committed to maintaining peace and security irrespective of political affiliations.
“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,” he said.
He maintained that the police had provided security for the movement’s activities on previous occasions and ensured that they 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.
