After dispersing African Democratic Congress (ADC) supporters, Kaduna State Police Command has explained the circumstances surrounding the action which it said followed an alleged obstruction of a major public road and a resulting breakdown of public order.

The Command, in a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, said it had not attempted to stop any lawful political gathering or peaceful assembly, contrary to claims circulating on social media.

The clarification followed a statement attributed to the Kaduna State ADC candidate, who had invoked the constitutional rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, while alleging that the Police had acted contrary to a previous High Court judgment concerning political gatherings.

According to the Police, the incident occurred on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, after security personnel at Murtala Square alerted the Command that a group of unknown persons was allegedly attempting to forcefully gain entry into the premises.

The statement said police personnel were subsequently deployed to the location to prevent any security breach and maintain public order.

“On arrival, a large number of persons were observed carrying banners bearing the acronym, ADC,” the Command said, adding that the group was advised that anyone intending to hold an event or gain access to Murtala Square was required to follow due process and obtain the necessary authorisation through the management of the facility.

The Police said its personnel withdrew after the situation appeared to have been brought under control, but alleged that the group later proceeded along WAFF Road towards the NEPA Roundabout by Ahmadu Bello Way.

According to the Command, the group allegedly blocked the roadway, causing severe traffic congestion and disrupting vehicular movement along the busy route.

The Police further said the development led to agitation and confrontation involving members of the group, cyclists and motorists, resulting in what it described as a breakdown of public order.

It said its personnel intervened to restore normalcy and prevent further escalation, adding that “minimal and proportionate force”, including tear gas, was deployed to disperse the crowd.

The Command stressed that it respected the constitutional rights of citizens to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, but maintained that such rights should be exercised within the law and without obstructing major public roads or compromising public safety and the rights of other citizens.

It urged members of the public to disregard what it described as misleading narratives concerning the incident and rely on verified information from the Police Command.