Hundreds of protesters are currently on the streets of Kano in defiance of the ban on demonstrations by the police.
It was earlier reported that the police command in Kano, Northwest, had banned all forms of protest in the state, with immediate effect.
It was gathered that the police’s decision was made after they received a report that two dominant parties; the New Nigeria People’s Party, and the All Progressives Congress had assembled a rented crowd to embark on protest, without the endorsement of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
The state commissioner of police, Mohammed Usain Gumel, while announcing the ban, vowed that any attempt to disobey it would be treated as an offence and a threat to national security.
He said, “Members of the public should therefore note that it has come to our knowledge that both the APC and the NNPP members are currently mobilising rented crowd in the guise of civil society coalition and without clearance from the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and prior approval from the security agencies in the state.
“Both organisers, as well as the umbrella body, should note that any attempt to disrespect NLC and the security agencies in the state, by playing around the fragile security situation, which the combined security agencies have been managing, is not only uncivil, criminal but also an offence against National Security.”
But shortly after the ban, according to Daily Trust, the protesters took to the streets and headed for the Government House.
The protest according to the report was led by the President of the Kano Civil Society Forum (KCSF), Ibrahim Waiya.
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