The Kano State Police Command has defended its decision to stop members of the Tinubu Must Go (TMG) movement from holding a meeting in the state, citing security concerns and the need to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, said the police were concerned about the safety of the organisers, residents and other participants, particularly as the planned gathering was expected to attract about 700 people.
Bakori, who spoke in an interview with DCL Hausa on Sunday, acknowledged that the group had the right to assemble but argued that notifying the police would have helped the command assess potential risks and make adequate security arrangements.
The development followed protests by TMG members, who alleged that police operatives blocked access to a private venue they had booked for the meeting.
Abba Hikima, a lawyer and co-convener of the movement, said in a live video on his verified Facebook page that more than 10 mobile police vehicles were deployed to prevent the gathering.
He described the action as a violation of the group’s fundamental rights, arguing that the law did not require police permission before citizens could organise a meeting.
Bakori said he contacted Hikima on Saturday night after seeing social media posts about the planned gathering. According to him, he asked the lawyer to notify the command and discuss security arrangements.
The commissioner said he subsequently advised the organisers to postpone the meeting and meet with police officials to address security concerns.
He added that Hikima promised to consult other members of the movement but did not respond to subsequent calls.
“What happened is that, in the first place, it is their right to come and organise their gathering. Nobody will stop them, and the law does not require them to inform us,” Bakori said.
He, however, maintained that advance notification would enable the police to protect participants, prevent attacks and ensure that the gathering did not lead to any criminal activity.
The police chief also cited a security incident in Sabon Gari about two weeks earlier, during which he said weapons were seized and some individuals allegedly travelling to Kano for political activities were arrested.
He said investigations into the incident were ongoing, adding that the command was concerned about the identities and accommodation arrangements of the expected participants.
“We were concerned about another gathering that was expected to attract about 700 people. We did not know who they were or where they would stay. We need to protect them and the residents of the state,” he said.
Bakori denied that the police action was politically motivated or connected to the group’s opposition to President Bola Tinubu.
He maintained that the command had not stopped people from expressing their views and pointed to previous occasions when Hikima had visited his office to lodge complaints that were subsequently investigated.
“There is nothing political about this. It is about understanding the situation and protecting the people of Kano State and Nigeria,” the commissioner said.
However, Hikima insisted that the meeting was intended to allow members to exchange ideas and mobilise support for their political objectives, accusing the police of violating their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
The dispute raises questions about how security agencies balance their responsibility to maintain public order with citizens’ constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and political expression.
