Operatives of the Department of Security Service (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, sealed off the Kano Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ (Press Centre).
This occurred after a group disclosed its plan to use the Press Centre as the venue of a peaceful protest against the insecurities in the country.
It was gathered that the organisers of the protest had posted on social media inviting the general public.
However, the protest could not hold as security vehicles with fully armed personnel were stationed at the centre across the street while the gate of the press centre was locked.
One of the conveners of the Kano protest, Barrister Abba Hikima, said, “The essence of this precession is to protest and show our anger on the happenings and the way things are going on in this country security-wise.
“Everyone in this country regardless of where he comes from is aware of the nature and security of Nigeria and people are aware that nobody is sleeping with his two eyes closed right now and nobody is doing anything about it.”
Hikima also stated that “Our leaders don’t seem to care but are only concerned about things that are not important – book launch and others and that was why they had converged together to call on the government and let them know that the people are the electorates that put them in power and are supposed to be our servants.
“Constitution of Nigeria confers sovereignty on the people of this country. We have it not the leaders. They should wake up to their responsibilities and do what they have to do else, we will come here to protest and protest forever until they do what they have to do.”
The barrister continued that they do not have to write to the police or anybody before protesting and that it was a decision of the court and the provision of section 39 in the Constitution of Nigeria.
Kano state chairman of NUJ, Abbas Ibrahim, reacted by saying that they were not aware of the protest, and did not give anybody permission to hold or use the Press Centre as a ground or for any protest to take place.
“What we know is that a group called Coalition of Northern Groups have informed us of a press briefing which they want to use the Press Centre to hold. But when our attention was drawn to it in the late evening hours of yesterday, we decline the permission and ask them to use another place.”
“We have not granted any permission to anybody to come here and start a protest.” he said.
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