March 16, (THEWILL) – The Department of State Services (DSS) has warned a political party in Kano state, against planned solidarity protest over the arrest of Sharu Abubakar Tabula and Isma’il Iliyasu Mangu.
Spokesperson of the DSS, Dr Peter Afunanya, who issued the warning in a statement on Thursday, said the suspects were arrested for deliberate incitement of violence.
Afunanya said the suspects separately recorded messages and shared them through various social media channels.
“In those potentially harmful messages, they specifically championed certain political interests and called on their supporters to violently attack those opposed to them.
“The suspects also called for attacks on security personnel during the Saturday Governorship and House of Assembly election in the state.
“As a result of this development, a particular political party in Kano has threatened to organise a protest march in the metropolis, as well as storm offices of some of the security agencies on 16th March, 2023, in solidarity for the suspects.
“While the Service alerts the public of this planned illegal action, it calls on the concerned party to shelve it forthwith or be ready to face the consequences.
“The DSS will not idly watch misguided persons or groups undermine the peace and security of the state.
“The leadership of the said party should rein in its members and urge them to desist from conducts capable of causing a breakdown of law and order in Kano and its environs before, during, and after the scheduled election”, the statement said.
Afunanya added that the DSS was collaborating with sister security agencies to ensure that adequate security was provided for a successful electoral exercise.
According to him, aside from Kano, the Service has recently arrested similar subversive elements that threatened violence in other states of the federation.
The DSS spokesman said the service had, on March 8, enjoined politicians to engage constructively and shun violence, fake news, and hate speech.
He said the DSS had called on political players to abide by the letters of the electoral act and guidelines and contribute to the sustenance of peace and democracy in Nigeria.
Although, Afunanya didn’t disclosed the name of the political party, however, THEWILL reports that Tabula and Mangu are members of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), a party under the leadership of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
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