The Kaduna State Government, led by Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has declared the Atyap Community Development Association an unlawful group in the state and signed an order to proscribe it just hours before the May 29 handover.
The proscription order stated that the Southern Kaduna organisation reportedly engaged in conduct harming the state’s peace, tranquilly, coexistence, and good governance.
A statement by El-Rufai’s spokesman, Muyiwa Adekeye, said the governor signed the Atyap Community Development Association (Proscription) Order, 2023 in the exercise of the powers conferred by Section 60 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law No. 5 of 2017, and Section 5 (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The proscription order became effective on May 24, 2023.
The proscription order noted that Sections 38 and 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantee the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and also the right to the freedom of association and peaceful assembly to all citizens.