KANO, Nigeria – The Kwankwasiyya Movement has accused the Kano State Government of intimidating and harassing critics and opposition supporters, saying it will continue to challenge alleged rights violations through legal and constitutional channels.
The movement made the allegations in a statement by its spokesperson, Dr Habibu Sale Mohammed, while reacting to an Amnesty International report concerning alleged arrests, detention and harassment of critics of the Kano government.
The group highlighted the case of Abba Ibrahim Kofar Nasarawa, popularly known as Aiha K Nass, who it said was arrested and brought before a Sharia court. According to the movement, an initial bail application was refused before bail was later granted under conditions requiring two serving permanent secretaries and a Kano State Government employee as sureties.
Kwankwasiyya said the bail conditions had kept K Nass in detention because he was unable to meet them. It questioned whether the conditions were proportionate, while stressing that anyone facing allegations remains presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The movement said it had petitioned the Chief Judge of Kano State and the Kano State Judicial Service Commission, seeking a review of the circumstances surrounding the proceedings.
It also said it would not respond to alleged intimidation with violence or encourage its supporters to take the law into their own hands.
“Let nobody provoke us into abandoning the path of law. Our response will continue to be constitutional, peaceful and lawful.”
The movement called for impartial reviews of cases involving people allegedly detained or prosecuted because of their political expression and urged the judiciary to protect its independence.
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