…NNPP Accuses DSS Of Intimidation
From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
As the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) plan to hold grand rallies in Kano on Thursday, Kano State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Muhammad Yakubu has promised to provide adequate security to avoid violent-clashes among supporters of the two political parties.
He said meetings are currently going on between security agencies and leaders of the two political parties so as to enable them understand the need to maintain peace and order while carrying out their political activities.
“We arebdealing with the situation in a such a way that there will not be any clash,” CP Yakubu told journalists at the Bompai police headquarters.
Meanwhile, chairman of NNPP in Kano, Hon. Umar Haruna Doguwa, has accused the Department of Security Services (DSS) in Kano State of intimidating high-ranking members of the party.
He also lamented that the campaign directorate of the NNPP in Kanonis under siege by men of the DSS.
According to him: “Today, Wednesday 22nd February, 2023, three days to the general elections, men of the Department of State Security, DSS, in Kano have laid siege on the Campaign Office of the NNPP.
“The office of the directors of Support Groups and that of the director of Youth Mobilization were cordoned by men of the DSS. We wish to state categorically that our party will never be intimidated. The DSS must not cheapen itself and be misused by the discredited administration of Mr. Ganduje.
“Laying seige on our offices and threatening the safety and security of our campaign directors and campaign staff will not be accepted.
“We are horrified to note that the men of the DSS were brazenly bringing weapons from their vehicles and putting them in the offices of our directors.
“This was done in the presence of our campaign staff, who also recorded the incidence on video. We have pictures and video evidence of this flagrant setup.
“We write to draw the attention of the Director General of the DSS to call his Command in Kano to order. Going to our offices to plant weapons with the intention of framing our campaign directors can neither change the result of the election nor can it change the mind of millions of our supporters.
“DSS must desist from intimidating, harassing and framing our members.
“We have not forgotten that few weeks ago, the wife of the DG of DSS who incidentally is from Kano State was openly and pompously raking that “they will never allow the NNPP to win in Kano”. Is the siege of our offices and the attempt to plant weapons in our offices part of the plan blurted by the wife of the DG to stop NNPP from winning?
“Let it be known that the threat made by the wife of the DSS DG and today’s evil action of condoning our offices and planting weapons are not mere coincidences.”
However, a top ranking DSS officer in Kano who does not want his name on print dismissed the allegations, describing them as concoction of lies.
He told our Correspondent that the DSS and other security agencies are working together towards ensuring violent-free and peaceful elections in the state.
“We are not authorized to speak. You can contact our spokesman in Abuja for official comment. But I must tell you that there is no truth in what he is saying,” he added.
Efforts made by Journalists to contact the DSS spokesman in Abuja through phone calls could not yield results as at the time of filling this report.
