Kano government denies Amnesty International’s allegations of repression, while Kwankwasiyya warns of growing intimidation and unlawful detentions.
The Kano State Government, has dismissed claims by Amnesty International that it has violated freedom of expression and harassed opposition figures in the state.
Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs Ibrahim Waiya, made it clear in a statement that Amnesty International’s allegations were unfounded and lacked credible evidence.
“The attention of the Kano State Government has been drawn to a publication by Amnesty International titled: “Kano: Escalating Repression Endangers Freedom of Expression,” he said.
He alleged that there was a pattern of arrests, detention, and harassment of individuals for criticising the Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, by security agencies at the instance of the Kano State Government.
“The Kano State Government hereby categorically rejects these allegations as misleading, unfounded, and a gross misrepresentation of facts.
“Let it be clearly known that, the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, is firmly committed to the protection of fundamental human rights, including the right to freedom of expression as guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The statement maintained that at no time has the government directed any security agency to target, harass, or intimidate any individual merely for expressing dissenting opinions.
The Kwankwasiyya Movement, on its part, also identified a growing pattern of intimidation, harassment, and unlawful detention of citizens in Kano for exercising their constitutional right to freedom of expression.
In a statement issued by Mansur Umar Kurugu, the Kwankwasiyya Media Team said the trend represented a dangerous escalation in the suppression of dissenting voices in the state.
“Since the governor’s defection to the APC/Gandujiyya political structure, Kano has witnessed a disturbing rise in the use of security agencies to silence critics. This is unacceptable, politically intolerant, and reflects