The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested the duo of Sharu Abubakar Tabula and Isma’il Iliyasu Mangu for deliberately inciting violence in parts of Kano State.
DSS spokesperson, Dr Peter Afunanya, said in a statement on Thursday that the suspects had separately recorded messages, which they shared through various social media platforms.
“In those potentially harmful messages, they specifically championed certain political interests and directly called on their supporters to violently attack those opposed to them, including security personnel during the 18th March, 2023 governorship and house of assembly election in the state.
“As a result of this development, a particular political party in Kano has threatened to organise protest march in the metropolis as well as storm offices of some of the security agencies on 16th March, 2023 in solidarity for the suspects,” Afunanya stated.
The DSS further said while the Service alerted the public of this planned illegal action, it called on the concerned party to shelve it forthwith or be ready to face the consequences.
The DSS assured that it will not idly watch misguided persons or groups undermine the peace and security of the State, stating that “the leadership of the said party should rein in its members and urge them to desist from conducts capable of causing a breakdown of law and order in Kano and its environs before, during and after the scheduled election.”
Meanwhile, the Service was collaborating with sister security agencies to ensure that adequate security is provided for a successful forthcoming electoral exercise.
Aside Kano, the Service recently arrested similar subversive elements that threatened violence in other States of the Federation.
It would be recalled that it had on March 8, 2023, enjoined politicians to engage constructively and shun violence, fake news and hate speech.
It reiterated the call for political players to abide by the letters of the Electoral Act 2022 and guidelines.
