Police Explain Why ADC Supporters Were Dispersed In Kaduna

The Kaduna State Police Command has explained the circumstances surrounding the dispersal of supporters of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kaduna.

According to Ireporter Online, the command said its officers were deployed to Murtala Square following a distress call from security personnel who reported that some individuals were attempting to force their way into the premises.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, said officers were immediately sent to the location to prevent a possible security breach and maintain public order.

Hassan said the officers met a large group of people carrying banners bearing the acronym “ADC” when they arrived at the scene.

According to him, the group was advised that anyone seeking to organise an event or gain access to Murtala Square was required to follow the appropriate procedures and obtain the necessary authorisation from the management.

He said the police later withdrew after the situation appeared to have stabilised.

However, Hassan said the group subsequently moved along WAFF Road towards the NEPA Roundabout on Ahmadu Bello Way, a major commercial route in the Kaduna metropolis.

The PPRO alleged that the protesters blocked the road, causing severe traffic congestion and disrupting vehicular movement.

He said the situation subsequently became tense as protesters, cyclists and motorists became agitated, leading to confrontations and a breakdown of public order.

Hassan said police officers intervened to restore normalcy and prevent the situation from escalating further.

He explained that minimal and proportionate force, including the use of tear gas, was deployed to disperse the crowd and reopen the road.

The police spokesperson stressed that the command recognised citizens’ constitutional rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.

He, however, maintained that such rights must be exercised responsibly and in accordance with the law.

According to Hassan, citizens are not permitted to obstruct major public roads, endanger public safety or infringe on the rights of other members of the public while exercising their constitutional freedoms.

He further clarified that the Kaduna State Police Command had not attempted to prevent any lawful political gathering or peaceful assembly.

Rather, he said the incident at Murtala Square was treated as a security and public-order matter and was not an attempt to restrict political expression or freedom of association.