The Kano State Police Command has issued a warning over intelligence reports suggesting possible terrorist attacks on public gatherings in the state.
In a statement released on Friday, Police Public Relations Officer SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa urged residents to avoid crowded areas and promptly report suspicious activities. The statement highlighted potential threats to strategic locations and assured the public of heightened security measures, including the deployment of explosive and chemical ordnance experts to key areas.
However, the Kano State Government dismissed the warning as a false alarm aimed at disrupting the National Tijjaniyya Maulud, an annual religious gathering led by Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II.
Speaking at a press briefing, Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdu Waiya, criticised the police for blocking Kofar Mata Stadium, the event’s venue, describing the action as unjustified and an infringement on religious and assembly rights.
“The National Tijjaniyya Maulud has been held for 39 years without incident. This is a peaceful and lawful event, and there is no security threat to warrant such extreme measures,” Waiya asserted.
The commissioner urged the Federal Government to withdraw security personnel and allow the event to proceed, reassuring attendees that the gathering, scheduled for Saturday, 25 January 2025, would take place as planned.