Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State says criminals disguised as protesters will not get a chance to unleash terror and loot properties in the state.
The overseeing Commissioner of the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, in a statement on Saturday revealed that the state had reviewed the security situation in the state and resolved not to spare any criminal element caught
The statement read, “The Kaduna State Security Council under the leadership of Governor Uba Sani, has reviewed the present security situation arising from the existing 6pm to 8am curfew, and other issues pertaining to public safety.”
“The Kaduna State Security Council recognizes the fundamental rights of citizens to freedom of expression, lawful assembly and other constitutional rights enshrined in the 1999 Constitution as amended.”
”Nevertheless, the security forces cannot permit a situation wherein criminals masquerade as protesters to loot and vandalize public and private properties and unleash terror on innocent citizens, as experienced on the 1st and 5th of August 2024.
It said that processions were not verified and cleared by security agencies and therefore remained prohibited in light of the public security considerations highlighted.
It noted that the ugly events of 1st and 5th August 2024 are clear indicators that criminals are pursuing an agenda to plunge the state into chaos and are ready to camouflage these designs with otherwise genuine protests.
The statement said available intelligence from the reviewed period also shows the grim focus of the forces in herding children and impressionable individuals into their dark schemes.
”The consequences of the plans, according to the statement if allowed to flourish, are better imagined, the statement said.
The Kaduna State Government and security forces, the statement said would not stand by and allow an anti-state agenda to run unchecked, stressing that it bears reiterating that criminals masquerading as protesters will not be permitted to wreak havoc.