By Sidi A. Umar Sokoto
Zonal Coordinator Kwankwasiyya Akida for Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states, Hon. Malami Moh’d Galadanchi, has accused the police in Sokoto of “harassing, intimidating and hounding” Kwankwasiyya supporters in Sokoto state. Galadanchi, a member of the Sokoto state House of Assembly representing Sokoto North I constituency, made the allegation in an interview with newsmen in Sokoto, saying that the police in Sokoto were not being fair to the Kwankwasiyya Movement. He said the police had, on Wednesday, August 9, 2017, disrupted their meeting which had earlier been granted permission to hold. Galadanchi, who showed to newsmen a photocopy of the paper containing the police permission with reference number as SNI /Co.sm/ 017/ V dated 8-8- 2017 with subject matter as ‘Notifi cation of Kwankwasiyya Amana Supporters Meeting in Sokoto,’ accused the Command of not being fair to the Movement.
“Th e meeting was called to distribute sport kits to the football teams that are supporting Kwankwasiyya Movement in Sokoto. We have duly applied through the DPO of the area and permission was granted, but to my utter surprise, the police who earlier granted us permission deployed hundreds of its men in eight vehicles to take over the venue. “Th is is not the fi rst time, they did similar thing in January, this year, when we plan to donate text and exercise books to primary school pupils they halted event after granting us permission. “Th ey have also precisely on June 8, this year, arrested Kwankwasiyya supporters returning from Chief Magistrate’s Court.
We don’t know who contracted them to be doing this to us because from what we know the police are for all, they are for everybody, they are Nigeria Police force expected to serve everybody.” “We are law-abiding citizens and each time we want hold meeting we write to them seek their permission as par the law of the land required. We are not confrontational, we are law abiding citizen; we always conduct our activities in an orderly manner.
“Th is is political, it is like the police who supposedly be neutral have taken side, may be they are acting someone’s script.” When contacted for comments, the Command’s Public Relations Offi cer, ASP Ibrahim Mohammed, confi rmed halting the meeting, saying that the conveners did not seek police permission. He said the Command got an intelligence report that the Galadanchi moved around with area boys carrying dangerous weapons to unleash terror on members of the public. Ibrahim also said the Command got intelligence report that if the meeting was allowed to hold, there would be breakdown of law and order “because people of the area were against it.”
