The Kaduna State Police Command has issued a ban on all unauthorized gatherings by the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), including their planned Ashura procession.
ASP Mansir Hassan, the command’s spokesperson, announced this prohibition in a statement released on Sunday in Kaduna.
According to Hassan, “The command has banned every manner of illegal protest in the state.” This decision follows intelligence reports indicating that the IMN, also known as Shi’ite, intends to conduct a procession to observe the 2024 Islamic Ashura day ceremony.
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Hassan highlighted the history of violence associated with previous Ashura processions, citing incidents of property destruction, injuries, and loss of lives. “It is against this backdrop that the Police command is warning the said sect members, who were since proscribed by law, to drop such a procession idea,” he asserted.
The statement emphasized that the police would enforce the ban rigorously and would apply legal measures against any individual or group, particularly members of the outlawed IMN, who defy the directive.
Commissioner of Police Ali Dabigi urged law-abiding citizens to continue their activities without fear, underscoring the importance of maintaining the current peace in the state.
“The hard-earned relative peace in the state can never be compromised by the selfish deviance of a few renegades,” Hassan concluded, reaffirming the police’s commitment to safeguarding public safety and order.
