Protests erupted in Kano city and its environs on Monday afternoon with the demonstrators denouncing the recent judgment of the Court Appeal that sacked the state Governor, Abba Yusuf.
Uneasy calm pervaded the state capital following a contradictory Certified True Copy of Appeal Court that affirmed the prayers of both the appellant and the respondent in the contentious Kano governorship, though the judiciary had since cleared the air.
In what appeared like a coordinated action on Monday, huge crowd of protesters had stormed strategic positions in the city as it visited temporary hiccups on commercial activities.
Kano- Zaria road, Maiduguri road by Muhammadu Buhari’s interchange, and Kantin Kwari (Kano textile market) were taken over by hundreds of youths who called for justice for Abba Yusuf.
The placard reads “Kano my city my state”, “Justice for Kano”, ” Justice for Abba”, “Abba’s mandate was stolen in 2019, we will not allow it happen in 2023”.
The protest came on the heels of discovery by the Police that “some faceless group are bent on unleashing violence in Kano”, stressing that the police were on top of the situation.
Cp Hussaini Gumel told newsmen in Kano on Monday that already 7 suspects had been arrested and would be arraigned soon.
CP Gumel revealed that “we have the understanding with the leadership of the contending political parties, and they have signed a peace pact, in view of that therefore, any one found outside this arrangement will be treated as common criminal”.
However, normalcy had since returned to the ancient city following the peaceful protest that lasted several hours.
Police react to calls for closure of markets, procession in Kano
Meanwhile, the Police Command in Kano State has urged residents to ignore calls for the closure of markets and street protests over the Appeal Court Judgment that removed Gov. Abba Yusuf.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Hussein Gumel, warned at a news briefing in Kano on Monday that the command would deal decisively with all trouble makers.
According to him, the command has received intelligence on plans by some unpatriotic citizens to foment trouble under the guise of gathering to offer special prayers.
“It was also brought to our notice that some people were circulating letters on the social media calling for the closure of markets and other commercial activities in the state,” he added.
Gumel said that the same group of people ”are trying to begin the use of social media in sending negative and poisonous messages against police and other security agencies on the ongoing peace efforts we are embarking on.
“I appeal to residents not to hesitate to report any person or group found circulating any form of information that could cause violence to the nearest security outfits for prompt action.”