Kaduna: Why we went after ADC supporters – Police

The Kaduna state Police Command has said it deployed tear gas to disperse a crowd of African Democratic Congress (ADC) supporters after they allegedly blocked a major road in the metropolis, causing severe traffic congestion and a breakdown of public order.

The Command said the incident on Wednesday was not an attempt to stop a political gathering or restrict citizens’ constitutional rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, the Command said it received a distress call from security personnel attached to Murtala Square that a group of unknown persons was attempting to forcefully gain entry into the premises.

It said police personnel were immediately deployed to the location, where they found a large number of people carrying banners bearing the ADC acronym.

According to the statement, the police advised the group that anyone seeking to hold an event or gain access to Murtala Square was required to follow due process and obtain the necessary authorisation from the management.

The Command said its personnel subsequently withdrew after the situation appeared to have been brought under control.

However, it alleged that the group later moved along WAFF road towards the NEPA Roundabout by Ahmadu Bello Way, where the protesters blocked the roadway and brought vehicular movement to a standstill.

The police said the obstruction led to agitation and confrontation involving the group, cyclists and motorists, creating a situation that threatened public order.

“In order to restore normalcy and prevent the situation from escalating further, Police personnel intervened and used minimal and proportionate force, including the deployment of tear gas, to disperse the crowd,” the statement said.

The clarification followed a statement by the Kaduna ADC candidate circulating on social media, in which he criticised the use of tear gas and invoked constitutional rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.

Responding to the criticism, the Command said it respected those rights but insisted that they must be exercised responsibly and within the law.

It said peaceful assembly should not involve obstructing major public roads, threatening public safety or infringing on the rights of other citizens.

The Command urged members of the public to disregard what it described as misleading narratives concerning the incident and rely on verified information from the police.