The Police Command in Kaduna State on Tuesday denied claims that it sealed off the headquarters of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), saying its personnel were only deployed to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
The Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansur Hassan, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the action followed intelligence reports and notifications from two rival factions within the forum to use the facility at the same time.
Hassan said the deployment was necessary to sustain the prevailing peace in Kaduna State.
Hassan said both groups had indicated plans to hold meetings at the same venue and time, a situation that could lead to confrontation.
According to him, as a law enforcement agency, the police cannot allow a clash. Once there is a clash, there must be a breakdown of law and order.
“We received intelligence and letters from the two factions that want to hold meetings there.
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“To prevent clashes is why we made the deployment. We cannot allow breakdown of law and order or clash between any group,” Hassan said.
NAN reports that an earlier statement on Tuesday signed by the ACF National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tanko Muhammad Baba, accused the police of sealing its national headquarters in Kaduna ahead of its scheduled National Executive Council meeting on Wednesday for no reason.
The statement noted that earlier meetings had been held without incident and that relevant security agencies, including the police, had been duly informed.
“There is absolutely no basis for sealing the office unless there are unstated motives,” the statement added.
The forum also disclosed that delegates had already arrived in Kaduna ahead of the NEC meeting, expressing hope that “rationality and good judgment will prevail.”(NAN)
