The Kano Election Peace Committee has urged the Police to ensure that they maintain their neutral status during the forthcoming general elections in the state.

The committee co-chairman, Rev. Namaza Niyiring made the call when members of the committee paid an advocacy visit to the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Rabi’u Yusuf on Wednesday in Kano.

He said the call was necessary as emphasised by the President Muhammadu Buhari at the inauguration of his campaign council recently.

He said there was need for the Police as a security agency to maintain their neutral status so that their prestige and integrity would continue to be preserved and upheld in the eyes of the public.

According to him, the purpose of the committee’s visit was to solicit the cooperation and support of the state police command on its campaigns for a peaceful conduct of all elections campaign, before, during and after the general elections.

“We are also here to request for your personal attendance at the signing of the peace accord, as an observer, for all governorship candidates in Kano and help in ensuring the peaceful and successful conduct of the event, “Niyiring said.

The co-chairman urged the Commissioner of Police to expedite action in bringing those responsible for the death of some people to book during the political rallies at Rano, Bichi and recently at Ganduje town in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Areas.

He said the measure was necessary in order to ensure that those found guilty of the dastardly acts faced the wrath of the law to serve as a deterrent to others.

In his remarks, the Police Commissioner said the command would not fold its arms and allow disgruntled elements to breach the current peace being enjoyed by the residents of the state.

“The command is determined more than ever before to ensure that we do not give anybody chance to breach the peace,” Yusuf said.

He assured the committee of the command’s commitment to remain neutral as well as give all political parties a level playing ground.

Yusuf said the command had been able to identify all flash points in the state with a view to giving them adequate security coverage to ensure peaceful elections.

On the recent bloody clash at Ganduje town, the Commissioner said the command had commenced investigation into the crisis as directed by the Force headquarters in Abuja.

He also disclosed that the command had secured convictions of more than 200 miscreants popularly known as Yan’daba in 2018, while effort was ongoing to check their excesses in the metropolis.

NAN reports that the committee which has Prof. Emeritus Ibrahim Umar as co-chairman was inaugurated on Dec. 3,2018 to engage all flag bearers of all political parties in the state to abide by the rules of engagement as enshrined in the constitution and the electoral Act 2010 as amended. (NAN)

– Jan. 9, 2019 @ 15:45 GMT |