Katsina bans unlawful assembly as Masari signs declaration order

Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State has signed a declaratory order banning any ‘unlawful’ assembly which consists of two or more people in any part of the state.

A statement signed by the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Media Abdu Labaran Malumfashi said the governor’s action was in line with power conferred upon him by Section 97A of the Penal Code.

The declaration states, among other things, “Any assembly of two or more persons in any part of Katsina State by whatever name called, whether or not it is armed or any of its members is armed with dangerous weapon or any instrument which is likely to cause death or such bodily injury, and the common object of which is to kill or injure or harass or intimidate members of the public or provoke breach of the public peace.”

Shedding further light on the new order, Abdu Labaran said the order categorically states that people carrying arms are those targeted.

“I can’t accept people going to mosques or places of worship will be carrying arms. The law means people gathering with arms,” he explained.

Reacting to the new order, the state chairman of the National Conscience Party (NCP) Abdulmumin Sani, said the order was a clear case of injustice aimed at suppressing the poor. He alleged also that the government wanted to hide behind it to infringe on the rights of the opposition in no distant future.

The leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheik Yakubu Yahaya, said, “This is a blind law. Is it political gathering that is banned or Islamic naming ceremony or wedding? No one seeks permission on this. The law should spell it out clearly.”