A joint team of Security agents, comprising operatives of the Department of State Security Service (DSS), the Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), on Wednesday sealed off the Kano Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ) Press Centre.

This was after news made the rounds that a certain group planned to use the Press Centre as venue of a peaceful protest against the deteriorating state of insecurity in the Northern parts of the Country. 

Barrister Abba Hikima, one of the conveners of the said protests, while addressing journalists at the venue said; "The essence of this procession is to protest and show our anger on the happenings and the way things are going on in this country security-wise.

"Everyone in this country, regardless of where he comes from is aware of the nature and security of Nigeria and people are aware that nobody is sleeping with their two eyes closed right now and nobody is doing anything about it."

The protest however did not see the light of the day as security vehicles fulled with fully armed personnel were stationed and spread across the entire ambience right from the wee hours of Wednesady. The Press Center was also under locks and keys. 

He said; “Our leaders don’t seem to care but only concerned about things that are not important – book launch and others. That is why we are here to call on this government that we are the electorates that send them over there. They are supposed to be our servants.

“Constitution of Nigeria confers sovereignty on the people of this country. We have it not the leaders. They should wake up to their responsibilities and do what they have to do else, we will come here to protest and protest forever until they do what they have to do.

“We don’t have to write to the police or anybody before we can come out and protest. This is a decision if the court and this is the provision of section 39 in the Constitution of Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, Kano State chairman of NUJ, Abbas Ibrahim, said his office was never informed about a protest or procession in the first place. He said his office or anyone he knows did not give clearance or permission for the NUJ facility to be used for such protests. 

He said; “What we know is that a group called Coalition of Northern Groups have informed us of a press briefing which they want to use the Press Centre to hold. But when our attention was drawn to it in the late evening hours of yesterday, we decline the permission and ask them to use another place. We have not granted any permission to anybody to come here and start a protest." 

He said his office declined the offer because due process was not followed. He also said there were concerns that the protest might be hijacked along the way as necessary precautionary measures were lacking. He also said the timing of the notice was too short for comfort. 

Recall that the Nigerian authorities have been roundly criticised for their crack down on protesters around some Northern States lately.

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