By 
By Tayo ABIOLA
Some residents of Kano on Saturday protested against any attempt to use military action to restore democratic rule in the Niger Republic as they stormed the streets of the commercial city.
The protesters who are mostly residents of the state embarked on the action to show their displeasure and non-support of the planned military invasion of the country.
While moving in a procession, they kept chanting, “Nigeriens are our brothers; Nigerians are also our family.”
“Niger is ours; we don’t want war; war against Niger is injustice, a plot by the Western forces,” they kept chanting, raising Nigerian and Nigerien flags alongside their placards, chanting anti-war songs.
Our correspondent gathered that the protesters, who were peaceful, marched through some major streets before dispersing to their respective places.
However, in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Police Commissioner in the State, Hussaini Gumel, dismissed the protest report.
Gumel reportedly said that the command was not aware of any protest by residents of the city against the proposed troops deployment.
“I am just hearing the report from you on the so-called demonstration by Kano residents because of the political situation in Niger Republic.
“You can see we are just coming back from the Passing-Out ceremony of graduands of the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, where about 169 cadet officers were commissioned by President Tinubu.
“So, frankly speaking I have not given any person or group of residents permit to embark on demonstration because of the political happenings in our next-door neighbour, Niger Republic.
“You can see Kano is a peaceful State and we will continue to provide security to enable residents to move about their businesses without threats to lives and property,” he said.
The commissioner, therefore, advised residents to continue with their normal businesses as a comprehensive security network had been set in motion in order to maintain peaceful atmosphere in the state.
The commercial city is calm and devoid of any protest, with people going about their normal activities peacefully.
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