The Kano State Government has called for the immediate arrest of former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje over alleged inciting statements and an alleged attempt to create an illegal 12,000 member militia group in the state.
The call followed deliberations at the 34th State Executive Council meeting of the Kano State Government, as disclosed by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, while briefing journalists on the outcome of the meeting.
According to Waiya, the state government believes that recent statements credited to the former governor and the Deputy Senate President, Barau I. Jibrin, pose serious threats to public peace and security in Kano.
He said the council deliberated on what it described as inflammatory remarks alleging that Kano State is vulnerable to banditry and the announcement of plans to recruit 12,000 individuals under a proposed religious police outfit known as Khairul Nas.
Waiya said the council viewed the utterances as reckless and capable of undermining the ongoing security efforts of both the Kano State Government and the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu.
He further revealed that less than 48 hours after the statements were made, suspected bandits invaded some border communities in the state, raising concerns that the remarks may have been premeditated or connected to the attacks.
The commissioner called on security agencies to immediately arrest and investigate the former governor over his alleged links to the insecurity incidents.
Responding to the allegation, Ganduje described the move as reckless and baseless. In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, the former governor accused the administration of Governor Abba Yusuf of abandoning its primary responsibility of protecting lives and property in favour of political theatrics.
Waiya, however, urged political leaders and public figures to avoid statements capable of inciting unrest while assuring residents that the Kano State Government remains committed to maintaining peace, law and order across the state.
