The Kano State government has called for the investigation and arrest of former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, accusing him of making inciting and reckless statements regarding the state’s security and attempting to form an illegal militia.
Following an executive council meeting on Thursday, state officials alleged that Ganduje’s recent comments on banditry were linked to attacks on border communities that occurred less than 48 hours later. The state government also condemned plans by the former governor to recruit 12,000 personnel into a proposed security outfit known as Khairul Nas.
Ganduje recently announced plans to establish a religious police outfit called Khairul Nas and recruit 12,000 people, many of whom are former state Hisbah personnel dismissed by the current administration. The state government views this as an attempt to create a parallel security structure or illegal militia.
Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, Kano State Commissioner for Information, briefed the press on the Council’s resolution, stating;
We don’t know what Ganduje means with those statements so we are therefore calling for his arrest. He must be investigated because we cannot afford to watch him destabilise our peace in the state. No individual or group would be allowed to create an illegal militia under any guise
Officials claim that suspected bandits infiltrated border communities less than 48 hours after Ganduje’s “reckless” comments, raising suspicions of a link between his comments and the attack.
This security dispute is layered on top of ongoing legal battles, including corruption charges filed by the state against Ganduje related to his tenure.
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