Monday, October 12, 2026 - The Kano State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, has defended the police blockade of a venue booked for a meeting of the Tinubu Must Go (TMG) movement, saying the action was aimed at protecting the organisers and residents of the state.
Members of the movement protested against the police action
on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
In a live video shared on his verified Facebook page, one of
the movement’s conveners, Abba Hikima, alleged “You can see already that over
10 vehicles of mobile police have been stationed.”
He accused the police of violating their civic rights,
arguing that the law did not require them to obtain permission before holding
the meeting.
“We are to gather here to exercise our civic rights. This is
even the more reason why Tinubu must go,” he said.
Hikima also maintained that a Court of Appeal decision
supported their right to hold rallies without notifying security agencies.
“The Court of Appeal decision stands. I do not need to
inform any security agent to hold my rallies. Next time, we are going to
protest; Next time we are going to demonstrate; next time we are going to hit
the ground,” he added.
He accused the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan
Disu, and Bakori of allowing political interests to influence their official
duties.
However, Bakori told DCL Hausa that although the organisers
had the right to hold their meeting, notifying the police would have helped the
command provide adequate security.
“What happened is that, in the first place, it is their
right to come and organise their gathering. Nobody will stop them, and the law
does not require them to inform us. However, notifying us is important because
it allows us to regulate the event and ensure there is no tension, that nobody
attacks them and that they do not engage in any activity in Kano that can
constitute an offence,” he said.
The commissioner said he learnt about the planned gathering
through social media the previous night and contacted Hikima to find out more
about it.
According to him, Hikima explained that the group intended
to hold a meeting, but Bakori asked him to notify the police so that security
arrangements could be made.
Bakori said he asked Hikima to postpone the meeting and meet
with him to discuss the arrangements, but the organiser said he would consult
other members before responding.
The commissioner added that he made several attempts to
contact Hikima afterwards but received no response.
He said the police needed information about the expected
attendees and their accommodation to assess potential security risks and
prevent tension among residents.
Bakori also cited an incident in Sabon Gari about two weeks
earlier, when, he said, the police seized weapons and arrested some people who
claimed they had come to Kano for political activities.
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