The Kano State Police Command has announced heightened security measures in anticipation of the planned nationwide protests against prevailing hardship in the country, slated for August in the state.
In a press release issued on Saturday by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, the Police spokesman revealed that a strategic meeting was held with other security agencies, including the military, to discuss and implement measures to maintain law and order in the state.
The police expressed concerns about the potential for violence during the protests, citing credible intelligence that suggested anti-state elements may be involved. While acknowledging the right to peaceful protest, the Police Command warned against any act of violence, vandalism, or disruption of public peace.
To ensure effective crowd control and prevent potential breaches of peace, the Police have urged the protest organisers to provide details about their planned routes, duration, leadership, and measures to prevent infiltration by criminal elements.
“By providing this information, the Police will be able to; deploy adequate personnel and resources to ensure public safety, designate specific routes and areas for the protest to avoid conflicts with other events or activities, establish clear communication channels with protest leaders to address any concerns or issues that may arise and minimize the risk of violence, property damage, or other criminal activity,” the statement emphasised.
The State’s Commissioner of Police called on citizens to remain calm, however, urging them to reconsider participating in the protests given the current security situation.
“We must also urge the law-abiding people of the State to remain patriotic and to rethink joining any protest group as it has become clear that even a peaceful protest at this time may be ill-timed, especially with the current issues in Kano State,” he stated.
The command has also provided emergency contact numbers for residents to report suspicious activities.
“In case of emergencies or to report any suspicious activity related to the planned protest, please contact the Kano Police Command through the following phone numbers; 08032419754, 08123821575, 09029292926,” the PPRO stated.
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