Police threaten crackdown on October 1 protesters in Kano

The Kano State Police Command has warned residents against taking to the streets in any guise as the command is ready to deal decisively with any person or group of persons that violated the order.

The Command’s spokesperson, SP Abdullahi Haruna, gave the warning while parading some arrested criminals at the Command’s headquarters in Bompai Kano on Monday.

He said that the police will not allow a repeat of the violence witnessed in the state during the recent #EndBadGovernance protests.

“On the forthcoming Independence Day celebration on 1 October 2024, the Police Command has concluded all necessary arrangements to provide adequate security during and after the event period.

“I therefore urge all Kano State residents to cooperate with the Police as well as other security agencies and participate in the Independence Day celebration responsibly, adhering to all safety guidelines and respecting the rights of others.

“In the same vein, security deployments have been concluded at strategic locations within the state to forestall any likely security threats on the alleged planned 1st October nationwide protest. We have to appreciate the fact that all forms of crime are reducing drastically,” Abdullahi said.

On the arrested suspects, he said no fewer than 89 suspects were apprehended for committing various offences in the state.

He said the offences committed by the suspects included kidnapping, human trafficking, armed robbery, drug dealing and forgery, among others.

According to him, the arrests were made at various locations in the state from September 12 to date pointing out that 53 of the suspects had been charged to court, while 36 are under investigation.

The Police spokesman noted that in line with the directives of IGP Kayode Egbetokun, on community-oriented and intelligence-led policing, the Command embarked on robust community engagements, intelligence-led operations and round-the-clock visibility patrols in Kano State to respond rapidly to emergencies, distress calls and prevent crimes.

He noted that the operation has yielded positive results as the Command has made significant strides in combating crime and ensuring public safety.