The Nigerian Police has denied reports that some residents of Kano state staged a protest over ECOWAS plan to deploy troops to reinstate deposed President Mohammed Bazoum who was removed three weeks ago by some coupists.
ECOWAS has swiftly responded to the putsch, saying it’s prepared to use all available options, including the use of force to restore constitutional democracy in the land-locked country.
The 15-nation regional bloc had priotised dialogue, but reiterated its plan for military invasion, if the military junta led by Gen. Omar Tchiani, the former commander of Niger’s presidential guards failed to hand over power during its second meeting of heads of state and government, in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital chaired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
ECOWAS has therefore directed chiefs of Defense staff in its members states to put troops on standby, a development said not to have been well received among Nigerian leaders, particularly in the northern part of the country who insist that Nigeriens are their brothers.
The reported protest in Kano is believed to have been carried out to further drive home the argument that invasion of Niger is not acceptable to leaders from the region, analysts said.
But speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria, the commissioner of Police in the state, Hussaini Gumel disclosed that no protest was held in the commercial city.
The police boss somehow described the reported protest as one existing in the imagination of those peddling it, noting that no group has been given a permit for such action.
According to him, “I am just hearing the report from you on the so-called demonstration by Kano residents because of the political situation in Niger Republic.
“You can see we are just coming back from the Passing-Out ceremony of graduands of the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, where about 169 cadet officers were commissioned by President Tinubu.
“So, frankly speaking I have not given any person or group of residents permit to embark on demonstration because of the political happenings in our next-door neighbour, Niger Republic.
“You can see Kano is a peaceful State and we will continue to provide security to enable residents to move about their businesses without threats to lives and property.”
Not a few Nigerians have expressed opposition to the political crisis in the country, warning that any military invasion is likely to conflagrate the situation and destabilise peace in the region.
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