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Naija News reports that Bakori made the clarification during an interview with DCL Hausa following allegations by the movement’s convener, Abba Hikima, that police officers prevented members from accessing a venue hired for their meeting on Sunday.
The commissioner acknowledged that the organisers had the right to assemble, but said advance communication with the police would have helped the command assess the gathering and make adequate security arrangements.
Hikima had accused the police of obstructing the meeting, alleging in a live video shared on his verified Facebook page that about 10 mobile police vehicles were deployed to the private venue secured for the event.
“They have been stationed here in order to prevent us from accessing the private venue which we paid for; we are to gather here to exercise our civic rights… This is even the more reason why Tinubu must go,” the lawyer said.
He maintained that the organisers were not legally required to obtain police permission before holding the meeting and accused the police leadership of allowing political considerations to influence its responsibilities.
“The Court of Appeal decision stands. I do not need to inform any security agent to hold my rallies. Next time, we are going to protest; Next time we are going to demonstrate; next time we are going to hit the ground,” Hikima added.
Police Commissioner Explains Intervention
Responding to the allegations, Bakori said he contacted Hikima on Saturday night after learning about the planned gathering through social media.
According to the commissioner, he acknowledged the movement’s right to organise the meeting but stressed that notifying the police would enable the command to prepare for potential security challenges.
“What happened is that, in the first place, it is their right to come and organise their gathering. Nobody will stop them, and the law does not require them to inform us,” Bakori said.
He added that advance notification would help the police prevent tensions, protect participants from possible attacks and ensure that activities at the gathering did not violate the law.
Bakori disclosed that he asked Hikima to postpone the programme and meet with the command to discuss the nature of the meeting and the security arrangements required.
The commissioner said Hikima promised to consult other organisers and get back to him but allegedly failed to respond to subsequent telephone calls.
“I asked him to postpone the meeting and come so we could discuss the matter. He said he would consult others and get back to me. I called him several times afterwards, but he did not answer,” Bakori stated.
Police Cite Expected Attendance of 700 People
The Kano police commissioner explained that the anticipated attendance of approximately 700 people raised concerns about the arrangements for the gathering.
He said the command needed information about the expected participants and their accommodation plans to ensure their safety and that of residents.
“If 700 people are coming into Kano, we need to know the details. This is not the first time political groups from different parties have organised activities in the state. They usually write to us, and we provide security for them,” he said.
When asked whether the police had intelligence indicating that the expected participants had criminal records, Bakori referred to an incident in Sabon Gari about two weeks earlier.
According to him, police officers recovered weapons from some individuals who reportedly claimed they had travelled to Kano for political activities.
“Two weeks ago, some people came to Sabon Gari claiming they were there for political activities. We seized weapons, arrested some of them, and we are still investigating the matter,” the commissioner said.
He explained that the incident contributed to the command’s concerns about another large gathering whose participants and logistical arrangements had not been established.
“We were concerned about another gathering that was expected to attract about 700 people. We did not know who they were or where they would stay. We need to protect them and the residents of the state. That is what happened,” Bakori added.
Police Deny Political Motive
Bakori rejected allegations that the police acted on behalf of a political party, insisting that the intervention was motivated by security considerations rather than political interests.
“There is nothing political about this. It is about understanding the situation and protecting the people of Kano State and Nigeria,” he said.
The commissioner also maintained that the command had previously provided security for activities organised by Hikima whenever the events were brought to its attention.
“We do not prevent people from organising events. Even he has informed us about their activities on several occasions, and we provided security, ensuring that the events ended peacefully,” he stated.
Bakori urged the organisers to engage with the police to resolve the disagreement, reiterating that the command’s position was intended to ensure the safety of both participants and residents.
“Our advice is that he should have informed us so we could provide security for the organisers and the people of Kano State. We are all working for the people,” he added.