WHY ADC SUPPORTERS WERE DISPERSED IN KADUNA — POLICE. (PHOTOS).

 Why ADC Supporters Were Dispersed In Kaduna — Police

The Kaduna State Police Command has explained why officers dispersed supporters of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) who took to the streets and blocked motorists in parts of Kaduna metropolis.

The Command said tear gas was used to disperse the protesters in order to prevent a breakdown of law and order, restore normal traffic flow and allow motorists to move freely.

The police were reacting to a statement attributed to ADC candidate Isah Muhammad Ashiru, which has been circulating on social media.

Ashiru had said: “Tear gas does not cancel the Constitution! Thugs do not repeal Section 39 and Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which guarantee every citizen the right to freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly and association.”

He also recalled that a High Court in Kaduna had previously declared attempts by the police to suspend political gatherings unconstitutional and an abuse of power.

Reacting in a statement issued on Thursday, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, said the police respected citizens’ constitutional rights but insisted that the circumstances surrounding the incident needed to be clarified.

According to him, “The Command has never attempted to stop any lawful political gathering or peaceful assembly. The incident in question arose from a security situation at Murtala Square and not from any attempt by the Police to prevent political expression or association.”

Hassan explained that on September 9, 2026, the police received a distress call from security personnel attached to Murtala Square over an alleged attempt by a group of unidentified persons to forcefully gain entry into the premises.

He said police officers were immediately deployed to the location to prevent any security breach and maintain public order.

“On arrival, a large number of persons were observed carrying banners bearing the acronym, ADC. The Police advised them that anyone intending to hold an event or gain access to Murtala Square was required to follow due process and obtain the necessary authorisation through the Management,” he said.

Hassan added that the officers later withdrew after the situation appeared to have been brought under control.

However, according to the police, the group subsequently moved along WAFF Road towards the NEPA Roundabout on Ahmadu Bello Way, one of the major and busiest commercial routes in Kaduna.

The protesters allegedly blocked the road, causing severe traffic congestion and bringing vehicular movement to a standstill.

The Command said the obstruction led to frustration among the protesters, cyclists and motorists, resulting in agitation, confrontation and a breakdown of public order.

“In order to restore normalcy and prevent the situation from escalating further, Police personnel intervened and used minimal and proportionate force, including the deployment of tear gas, to disperse the crowd,” the statement said.

The police reiterated that it respects the constitutional rights of citizens to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.

However, the Command stressed that such rights must be exercised responsibly and within the law, without obstructing major public roads, threatening public safety or infringing on the rights of other citizens.

The Command also urged members of the public to disregard what it described as misleading narratives about the incident and rely on verified information from the Kaduna State Police Command.

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