…As Adeyanju Condemns Attack
The Kaduna State Police Command has said it did not receive notification of a political gathering from former governor of the state, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai or his party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after the meeting reportedly degenerated into violence and shooting.
It said it has therefore launched a full-scale investigation over the alleged shooting.
The incident, according to the Command, occurred after a political gathering said to have been convened under the platform of the ADC Coalition without prior notification to security agencies.
The State Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, in a statement issued on Saturday, noted that despite repeated warnings, the organizers went ahead with the meeting, a development that allegedly created a fertile ground for thugs to unleash violence.
He explained that preliminary findings showed that “political gangsters and thugs attached to the former Governor” were involved in the shooting that disrupted public peace and order in the state.
“Preliminary findings indicate that the gathering led to a clash, during which thugs and political gangsters attached to the former Governor allegedly fired gunshots, causing chaos and disruption of public order and peace in the state,” the statement read.
Hassan noted that the command would not spare anyone found culpable, no matter how highly placed, warning that nobody was above the law.
The police further disclosed that it had approached the ADC leadership to clarify the issue. According to Hassan, party officials denied knowledge of such a meeting and distanced themselves from any gathering allegedly linked to El-Rufai.
“The Command wishes to state categorically that the investigation is ongoing, and anyone found culpable, irrespective of his personality and no matter how highly placed, if he acted contrary to the law, will face the full weight of the law.
“The police command further launched an inquiry from the ADC party secretariat to keep the records straight. According to the party officials, they denied having knowledge of any meetings and refuted the claim of the organizers.
“The ADC leadership reaffirmed their commitment to the rule of law and distanced themselves from the claims of the former Governor,” the spokesman said.
He also warned that hotels, event centres and similar facilities would henceforth be held liable if they host political gatherings without first notifying security agencies.
“Any hotel, event centre, or similar facility that permits political meetings or gatherings without prior notification to the Police or other relevant security agencies will equally be held liable.
“This measure is to ensure due process is followed and to prevent thugs or miscreants from hijacking such gatherings to cause mayhem or breakdown of law and order,” he added.
The Command said it had suspended all unauthorized political gatherings across the state until due process and proper security arrangements were ensured, noting that the move was in the overall interest of peace and public safety.
“In the interest of peace and public safety, the Command further announces that all such unauthorized gatherings are to be suspended until due process and proper security arrangements are ensured,” Hassan stated.
Meanwhile, a human rights activist and lawyer has condemned in its entirety what he called “the pro-government sponsored hoodlum attack on El-Rufai’s ADC Coalition meeting in Kaduna which has led to injury of several of their members and damage of vehicles.”
He said, “Democracy is about the freedom of choice and association. People should be able to congregate and oppose the government in a democracy.
“Every citizen of Nigeria should be able to hold divergent political views, hold meetings or assemble with others to express their political views and oppose those in power without fear of attack by the government or its proxies.
“The sad part is that the attack on El-Rufai’s supporters happened in the presence of police officers. This is political intolerance and it is completely unacceptable,” he said.
