Kano Police Restrict Movement in Dawakin Kudu for Assembly By-Election

The Kano State Police Command has announced restriction of movement in Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area (LGA) from midnight to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19, ahead of the State Assembly by-election in the constituency.

The command made this known in a statement issued by its Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, saying the restriction was part of measures to ensure a peaceful and hitch-free election.

According to the statement, the restriction is being implemented in consultation with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), Kano chapter, and in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu. It said only persons on essential duties with valid means of identification would be allowed movement during the period.

It listed INEC officials, accredited election observers, medical personnel, firefighters and accredited journalists among those exempted from the restriction. The command also warned that security aides and escorts attached to VIPs, political office holders and government functionaries would not be allowed to accompany their principals to polling units and collation centres.

The command further banned quasi-security outfits, vigilante groups and voluntary organisations from participating in the election security arrangement or loitering around polling units. It also prohibited the carrying of arms or dangerous weapons, vote-buying and selling, political canvassing around polling units, and unauthorised access to polling and collation centres.

The command said adequate personnel and operational assets had been deployed to polling units, Registration Area Centres (RACs), collation centres and identified flashpoints across the LGA. It warned that anyone violating the restriction order or other electoral guidelines would be arrested and prosecuted, while urging parents and guardians to prevent their wards from being used as political thugs.