From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
Kano State government has condemned, in the strongest terms, the rising spate of phone snatching, unprovoked attacks on residents and political thuggery by hoodlums the government identified as members of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
A Statement signed by the State Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, tasked the perpetrators to desist from such violent activities, capable of undermining peaceful campaigns ahead of the 2023 general elections.
According to the statement, “Kano state government has condemned in totality the reprehensible act of violence unleashed on the state by members of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) during the commissioning of campaign office of the party’s presidential candidate, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso in Sharada in the metropolis.”
Malam Garba, who is also the spokesperson for Gawuna/Garo Campaign Council, further stated that, “while the government is ensuring a level playing ground for electioneering campaign by all political parties, it was unfortunate that the NNPP started by attacking unsuspecting public.”
He said the programme which is supposed to be a peaceful gathering of the party, “its members, however, brandished dangerous weapons and turned it to a launch pad to attack residents, allegedly leading to some deaths as well as snatching of mobile phones.”
Malam Garba added that the administration of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje is appalled that there seems to be a deliberate attempt by the NNPP to shatter the prevailing peaceful political atmosphere in the state.
The Commissioner revealed that Governor Ganduje has tasked the state security agencies to be alive of its responsibilities by ensuring that all political rallies are peacful and deal with any person or group bent on creating chaos.
The statement warned that the full weight of the law would be brought to bear on any person or group bent on breaching the peace in the name of political campaign and reaffirmed his earlier call for issue based campaign.
Malam Garba said while the restriction of the operation of tricyclist from 10pm has reduced to the barest minimum perpetration of criminal activities, government would not hesitate to Institute other measures to ensure that peace prevails.
He said Kano has been enjoying relative peace compared to other states in the federation and called on all relevant stakeholders to ensure that the state has peaceful campaigns, elections and transition programme.
