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The Kano state police command has arrested five members of the Nigeria Patriotic Front Movement (NPFM), the group championing the planned October 1 protest in Kano.
However, virtually all shops in some parts of the state capital were closed in anticipation of the protest, as the owners’ intentions were to safeguard lives and property in case the protest took place.
A visit to the popular markets, such as Muhamnadu Rimi and Yankwura markets, revealed that as of the time of filing this report, they had not opened for business activities.
The arrested members included the group’s national chairman, Comrade Abdulmajid Yakubu Daudu, Barrister Yusha’u Sani Yankuzo, Barrister Amina Bello, Comrade Sani NaRogo, Comrade Anas, and Comrade Abdullahi.
It will be recalled that the movement vowed to occupy the street of Kano on October 1, 2024, to demand good governance.
The leader of the group, Yakubu Dauda, stated that they were not planning to incite violence, but they were prepared to march to the government house to submit their demands.
However, an unconfirmed source suggested that those who were arrested had been taken to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
It was also revealed that the reason for their arrest was that the association leaders refused to comply with a request to send representatives regarding the planned protest.
Also, Dauda, while briefing the press in Kano, said with the single pronouncement of subsidy removal in 2023, President Bola Tinubu had pushed millions of Nigerians into severe poverty.
The problem began by the time the naira was devalued, the bank rate and electricity skyrocketed, the middle class was decimated, and starvation became visible in towns and countries alike,” he said.
The group leader said the movement was compelled by the overwhelming situation to organize the peaceful protest for national survival to give life to Nigerians.
However, a statement by the NPFM Secretariat, signed by Comrade Al Amin, confirmed the arrest of the activists.
Amin said they were arrested and detained after honouring an invitation by the state police commissioner, CP Salman Dogo Garba, for a meeting at 2 pm on Monday.
Following their arrest, the statement confirmed that the activists were taken from Kano Police Headquarters to the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) in Abuja, and their mobile phones were seized.
The statement reads: “Comrade Abdulmajid Yakubu Daudu left his office this afternoon at around 2:30 pm to attend a meeting with the Kano state commissioner of police at the Bompai headquarters of the force.
Comrade Abdulmajid was with four other members of the NPFM when he left his office for the meeting with the commissioner.
As of 7:42 pm, comrade Abdulmajid and his colleagues have not returned. Their whereabouts are unknown. All efforts to reach them have proved abortive.
