The Kano State Police Command has transferred 76 suspects, including a foreign national, to the Force Headquarters in Abuja for a discreet investigation on charges of sedition.
The suspects were reportedly arrested for flying Russian flags during recent nationwide hunger protests that turned violent in several parts of northern Nigeria.
Addressing the press on Monday, Kano State Commissioner of Police, Salman Garba, provided updates on the ongoing investigations and arrests linked to the unrest.
Garba emphasized that the Kano Command acted in accordance with directives from the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, and worked diligently to manage the situation.
“These efforts resulted in the arrest of 873 suspects and the recovery of a large quantity of exhibits,” Garba said.
Among these, 76 suspects were apprehended for flying Russian flags during the protests, prompting their transfer to Abuja for further investigation.
Garba also disclosed the arrest of a foreign national among the suspects, who has been transferred to the Force Headquarters for further investigation on sedition charges.
In addition to these arrests, the Commissioner revealed that 150 individuals were detained and are being prosecuted for violating the curfew imposed by the Kano State government during the protests.
The protests, which began as a response to widespread hunger, escalated into violence, leading to the destruction of public and private properties across the region.
Further addressing the aftermath of the protests, Garba announced that six suspects were arrested for their alleged roles in the destruction, arson, and looting of the Kano Printing Press.
A total of 600 suspects are now facing prosecution for various offences, including criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, riot, theft, mischief, and arson.
The police also recovered significant amounts of looted property during their operations, including two AK-47 rifles from the suspects.
Despite the challenges presented by the recent unrest, Garba highlighted the continued success of the Kano State Police Command in crime prevention and control.
“Through proactive policing strategies and community engagement, we have successfully achieved tremendous successes within the period under review with the arrest of two suspected kidnappers, five suspected armed robbers, and eight suspected car thieves,” he said.
In a related development, Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf announced the indefinite suspension of the curfew imposed in the state in response to the violence.
The announcement was made by the State Commissioner for Information, Halilu Baba Dantiye, who stated that the decision followed an assessment of the current security situation in Kano.
The curfew had been initially enforced to restore order following the #EndbadGovernance protests, which led to widespread looting and destruction in the state.