The Kaduna State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has announced a ban on all unlawful protests in the state.
The State Police Command made this known in a statement on Sunday by its spokesperson, ASP Mansir Hassan.
The statement particularly warned that the ban affects the planned Ashura procession by the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), also known as Shiites, to mark the 2024 Islamic Ashura day ceremony.
Hassan noted that the Ashura procession has been known over the years to be characterised by unimaginable violence leading to the destruction of properties, injuries to persons and even loss of lives.
The Kaduna Police spokesperson added that the Shiites group has been outlawed, hence their planned protest is illegal.
Hassan said, “The command has banned every manner of illegal protest in the State.
”This is coming on the heels of a received intelligence indicating that the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria also known as Shi’ite are planning a procession to mark the 2024 Islamic Ashura day ceremony.
“It is an undeniable fact that the said ritual practice has in the recent past been characterised by unimaginable violence leading to the destruction of properties, injuries to persons and even 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.”
The Police warned that the Command would not hesitate to bring the full weight of the law to bear on any person or group, especially the outlawed IMN members, that dared to violate the ban.
The statement added, however, that the Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Command, Mr Ali Dabigi, has called on all law-abiding persons to go about their lawful endeavours without fear, stating that the hard-earned relative peace in the state can never be compromised by the selfish deviance of a few ‘renegades.
