The Kano State Government has accused the police of attempting to disrupt the annual National Tijjaniyya Maulud, a religious event that has been held for 39 years.
Addressing journalists at the Emir’s Palace on Friday evening, the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, dismissed an earlier alarm raised by the police.
Kano Times had reported that the Kano Police Command claimed to have received intelligence reports about suspected terrorists planning to attack public gatherings in key locations across the state.
Reacting to the report, Waiya criticized the police for blocking the venue of the religious gathering, describing the action as unnecessary and unjustified.
“Kano State, as a historical center of Islamic scholarship and religious harmony, remains committed to upholding and supporting activities that promote peace, unity, and spiritual growth,” Waiya said.
He added that there was no evidence of any security threat in the state that warranted such measures. “The presence of security operatives at the venue of this significant religious activity is unwarranted and unacceptable,” he said.
Waiya reassured the public that the Maulud would proceed as planned at Kofar Mata Stadium and urged attendees not to be deterred.
“The National Tijjaniyya Maulud will hold as planned from 8:00 AM at Kofar Mata Stadium. This religious gathering is organized by a legitimately registered and recognized body, and any attempt to obstruct it would be a violation of the citizens’ right to lawful assembly and religious practice in Nigeria,” he stated.
The commissioner also called on the Federal Government to withdraw its security agencies from the venue, emphasizing that Kofar Mata Stadium is a property of the Kano State Government.
“There is no justification for any external force to obstruct a legitimate religious gathering. Kano State has always been a beacon of peace and religious tolerance, and we will not accept any form of intimidation or undue interference in our internal affairs,” Waiya declared.
