Kano State govt accuses NNPP of attack, dispossessing residents

KANO State government has condemned what it described as “reprehensible act of violence” unleashed on peaceful residents by members of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Kano.

A statement by the state Commissioner for Information, and spokesperson of Gawauna/Garo Campaign Council, Mallam Muhammad Garba, yesterday, stated that while government is ensuring level playing ground for election campaigns by political parties, it was unfortunate that NNPP kick-started its campaign with violence and dispossessing members of the public their personal belongings.

Garba noted that residents were attacked, as phones and other items were snatched during recent commissioning of the campaign office of the party’s presidential candidate, Rabi’u Kwankwaso, in Sharada area of the metropolis.

The Spokesperson of All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate said the programme, which was supposed to be a peaceful gathering of the party, however, turned volatile with NNPP members brandishing dangerous weapons to attack residents, which allegedly resulted in killings, while many others were injured.

Garba added that the administration of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje is appalled that there seems to be a deliberate attempt by NNPP to destroy prevailing peaceful political atmosphere in the state.

The commissioner revealed that Ganduje has tasked state security agencies to ensure that political rallies are peaceful. He urged them to deal with any person or group creating chaos in the state.

The statement warned that the full weight of the law would be brought on any person or group breaching peace in the name of political campaign in the state, reaffirming the governor’s earlier call for issue based campaign.

Garba noted that while restriction of tricyclists operations from 10: 00 p.m. 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 stakeholders to ensure the state has peaceful campaigns, elections and transition programme.