Kano restricts motorcycles

MADUABUCHI NMERIBEH/Kano

Disturbed by the incessant attacks by gunmen on motorbikes which have claimed lives in recent times, the Kano State Security Council has slammed a dusk to dawn curfew for motorcycle operators, restricting their movements between 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim K. Idris who disclosed this to newsmen on Thursday cited security reasons for the action.

According to him, “the incessant use of motorcycle to attack innocent citizens in the state has made it necessary for the state security council to convene a meeting on Monday 20 November, 2012 and it was resolved that imposition of ban on the use of motorcycles from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m within the state is enforced. It is very necessary considering the fact that criminals are using motorcycles to wreak havoc in the state. You are as well aware that almost all the incidents of killings and armed robberies in recent times in Kano state were carried out on motorcycles. We hereby call on motorcycle users to abide by the curfew without any exception. Snap checkpoints have been put in place across the state to check and arrest the violators,” Idris stated.

The police boss said the security meeting presided over by Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso warned that on no account should the motorcycle law be violated even by security agents as offenders would be adequately prosecuted no matter who is involved. He also stated that the order would be on till after the ember period, adding that special security arrangements that would involve all security apparatus in the state have been put to place to forestall possible security challenges that could come with the Christmas season.

According to him, there would be water-tight security deployment at strategic locations, including places of worship, markets, motor parks, banks, schools, hospitals and other public utilities, infrastructures and offices. Idis urged Kano residents to be security conscious and give maximum cooperation to security agencies, including the police and the Joint Task Force, adding that the use of knock-outs and other fireworks are prohibited, “parents and guardians are strictly warned to stop their children from purchasing and using such items as anybody caught will be prosecuted in the Court of Law.”

Road users were also advised to respect all traffic laws and regulations to ensure accident-free festivals. While pointing out the need to maintain the motorcycle curfew, the Commissioner of Police recalled that on 20 November, police engaged a gang of armed robbers on motorcycles in a gun duel and as a result, one Ahmed Tijjani of no fixed address and Safiyanu Abubakar from Kebbi state were arrested with severe bullet injuries.

Exhibits recovered from them include one AK47 Riffle and 27 rounds of live ammunition. “They confessed to a series of robbery attacks in Kano, including that of MC PVC Ltd in Sharada Industrial Estate; robberies at Charanchi and Zangon Dakata filling stations; two robberies at Kantin Kwari Market; robberies at Gidan Keji BUK Rd and the one at Sharada Rubber Company. They led operatives to their hideouts at Kofar Dawanau and Gaida Quarters whereby the following items were recovered: one bag of high density polythene chemical, four containers of ready-made bombs, and one leather containing sulpur, 20 connecting cables, one Jincheng Motorcycle and other chemical substances,” Idris stated.

Also on 19 November, unknown gun men on motorbike armed with pistol attacked some residents at Dakata axis of Kano and made away with a Lifan Motorcycle and three GSM Handsets. The Police, however, arrested Bello Abbas who confessed to have participated in the Dakata robbery and several other robbery attacks at Badawa, including the killing of a police man attached to Dakata Police Division. On 27 October, police arrested Mohammed Kabiru and Dansabo Ado at Kunar Quarters while going for a robbery operation on a motor bike, and in possession of a Pump Action and 15 rounds of cartridges.

“During investigation, it was revealed that they belong to a gang of notorious armed robbers that has been terrorizing innocent people within Kano metropolis. Other members of the gang are being pursued for arrest and further interrogation,” Idris added. The police boss further stated that the Kano Police Command and other security agencies will engage in aggressive patrol of the nooks and crannies of the state in order to criminal activities and ensure safety of lives and properties. He urged Kano residents to call the Command’s Control Room in case of emergency, adding that the Public Complain Bureau under the office of the Command’s Public Relations Department and National Human Right Desk are also accessible for complaints on human right violation by the Police.

The phone numbers for the Control Room include: 08032419754, 08123821575, 08099831808 and 064977005, while that of the Public Complain Bureau include 08066628450, 08031803555 and 08057959393. The Commissioner of Police also urged the public to desist from offering bribes and gratification to officers and men on duty, noting that such act is an offence which both the giver and the taker are liable to prosecution.

Meanwhile, but for the timely intervention of security forces, the bubbling community of Bichi in Kano northwest Nigeria would have been destroyed by angry protesters who were condemning what they described as blasphemous reference to Prophet Mohammed. TheNEWS reliably gathered that trouble started when a tailor joked with his neighbor over a cloth he sew, using an adage that was perceived to debase the person, integrity and divinity of Prophet Mohammed.
The unidentified tailor, TheNEWS learnt, brought out a newly sown cloth and told his neighbor that this is, “Annabi Ya Shiga Kasuwa (meaning, the Prophet has entered market). The expression angered some youths around who mobilized and took to the streets. It was learnt that during the protest, a number of places of worship, shops, business centres and residential homes were burnt by the protesters who also staged burn-fires on the roads to demonstrate their anger.

Unspecified numbers of people were severely wounded and have been taken to a specialist hospital within Kano city for treatment. A resident of Bichi who spoke to our Correspondent on phone said non-natives and non-Muslims were running for safety, “I saw running towards the College of Education and police stations to take refuge while the protesters were on rampage. I cannot confirm if any life was lost yet, but I can see security personnel both the police, army and the JTF driving away the protesters. I can say that normalcy is gradually returning, but non-Muslims and non-natives are fleeing the area for fear of the unknown,” said the caller who pleaded for anonymity.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim K. Idris confirmed the incident, adding that his men and other security agencies had cordoned off the area. He urged residents to remain calm and law-abiding, pointing out that enough security arrangement has been put in place to control the situation.