THE Kano State Police Command said it had moved about 76 suspects arrested for flying Russian flags during the #EndBadGovernance protest to the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The command said the suspects, which include a foreigner, would be put through a discreet investigation and charged with sedition.
The Commissioner of Police (CP) in Kano State, Salman Garba, disclosed this on Monday, August 12, while giving an update on the people arrested during the nationwide hunger protest that turned violent in the North.
He said the press conference was to highlight the success made by the command in the areas of crime prevention, management, and control since August 1 when the @EndBadGovernance protest started.
“In line with the directives of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, to all commands and formations, the Kano Command worked diligently and professionally towards addressing the aftermath of these events, and these efforts resulted in the arrest of 873 suspects and recovery of large quantity of exhibits,” the CP stated.
The CP also revealed the “arrest and prosecution of 150 suspects for violating the curfew enforced by the Kano State government.”
According to Garba, six people were detained on suspicion of planning the destruction, burning, and looting of the Kano Printing Press.
Besides, he revealed that 600 suspects were arrested and being prosecuted for a variety of offences, including criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, riot, theft, mischief, and arson.
He stated that the police found evidence of looting by thugs in areas including the Audu Bako Secretariat NCC Office, High Court Complexes, Kano Printing Press, and Super Markets.
He added that the command recovered two AK-47 rifles and other valuable assets.
Meanwhile, Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf has suspended the curfew imposed on the state.
The State Commissioner for Information, Halilu Dantiye, disclosed on Monday, August 12.
On August 1, the state’s governor enforced a 24-hour curfew after the hunger protest turned violent, resulting in significant damage to both public and private property as well as looting in the state.
The ICIR reported that insecurity, inflation and a hike in the cost of living among others pushed many Nigerians to stage a nationwide protest.
Tinubu had stopped fuel subsidies and devalued the local currency – the naira – thus causing a spiral hike in food and commodity prices and making life unbearing for many citizens.
A reporter with the ICIR
A Journalist with a niche for quality and a promoter of good governance