Governor Yusuf Inaugurates 14-Member Judicial Commission of Inquiry to Investigate the Perpetrators and Sponsors Behind the Violence Following the August 1 Protest
Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has sworn-in 14 members of Judicial commission of inquiry to unravel perpetrators and the sponsors of the violent protests erupted during the supposed peaceful hunger protest in the state.
Inaugurating the Commission on Monday at Government House, Kano, Governor Yusuf recalled inviting the peaceful protesters to present their demands for onward submission to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The governor reminded that the protests started peacefully but were hijacked by enemies of the state, saying, “It is on notice that I had earlier on before the protests at a town hold meeting in the Government House, before all the stakeholders, acknowledged the Constitutionality of the peaceful protests and also pledged to receive them at the Government House.
“From the beginning of the protests, no single protester had any weapons on him from where they converged at Gidan Murtala to Government House.
“These peaceful protesters were received at the gate of the government house by security agents but while they were waiting for me to receive them we had an unfortunate situation with hundreds of other dangerous persons with weapons coming to the gathering, attacking peaceful protesters.”
He said, “It took the security almost three hours to disperse them, they went on destroying many public buildings including the NCC building.
“They destroyed the High Court with six Justices offices, files of highly placed cases were stolen of which the Commission is to deeply investigate the matter, including stealing of a Judge’s wig, they went to the oldest Printing Press in Nigeria and destroyed everything, they went violent killing and attacking people.”
The governor promised to investigate the matter and deal with anyone involved in perpetrating violence in the state.
He said the 14-man commission is led by retired Justice Lawal Wada Mahmoud, a former State High Court judge, with members from the religious, Civil Society Organizations, Security agencies and the business community.
He charged the members to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the protests, identifying the causes, perpetrators, and sponsors of the violence.
Governor Yusuf, emphasized the importance of the commission’s work, stating that it was crucial to understanding the events that led to the destruction and finding ways to prevent future occurrences.
He said the state government will not interfere with its work thereby assuring them of a freehand as they deliver the task.
He called on the commission to also advise the state government on what to do with the destroyed infrastructure, how to profer solution to the problem and forestall future occurrence and also how to resolve the problem of unemployed youth roving about the streets.
Speaking on behalf of the commission, the chairman thanked the governor for seeing them worthy and giving the task, while he promised that they would do their best to deliver.
