The Kaduna State Police Command has distanced itself from an individual claiming to be a member of the Nigerian Police Force, who allegedly made threats of retaliation against Southerners living in the North.
This follows a controversial statement made by the person in connection with the recent killings of 16 alleged hunters in Uromi, Edo State.
The individual, identified as Hadaina Hussaini (also known as Dan-Taki), made the inflammatory comment on Facebook in response to the lynching of the 16 travelers, who were reported to be of Northern descent. In the post, Hussaini threatened retaliatory violence against Southerners residing in Northern Nigeria, invoking the name of God in his vow to take action.
In his post, Hussaini wrote: “I swear to Almighty God, we must do something for you guys. Have you forgotten all your brothers that are here in the North? Mark my words, after one week, you will see the result.” His post quickly drew widespread criticism, which led him to alter his Facebook profile, including changing his first name and restricting access to his posts.
In response to the growing backlash, the Kaduna State Police Command issued a statement on Friday, clarifying the individual’s status. The spokesperson for the Command, DSP Mansir Hassan, confirmed that Hussaini is neither a member of the Nigerian Police Force nor affiliated with the Kaduna State Police Command.
However, the statement acknowledged that Hussaini was once part of the Police Special Constabulary attached to the Kaduna State Constabulary Office. He was dismissed from this voluntary position two years ago due to concerns about his conduct.
The full statement from the police reads: “The attention of the Kaduna State Police Command has been drawn to a post circulating on various social media platforms, attributed to one Hadaina Hussaini (Dan-Taki), in which he allegedly threatens retaliatory actions against Southerners in the wake of the killings in Uromi. To clarify, Hussaini is not a member of the Nigeria Police Force nor an employee of the Kaduna State Police Command.”
The statement also noted that Hussaini’s photo in a police uniform, which accompanied the Facebook post, was taken during his time as a member of the Police Special Constabulary. It was emphasized that the uniform displayed in the photo was an improper dress code, as he had been dismissed from the Special Constabulary two years ago.
The police urged the public to pay close attention to the identity card that accompanies such uniforms, which should include the words “PSC/KD,” denoting the Police Special Constabulary. The images of Hussaini in uniform had been posted online before his dismissal, further distancing him from any current official police capacity.
The statement concluded by confirming that Hussaini had been arrested and would face legal action following the completion of the necessary investigations. The Kaduna Police Command reiterated that the Nigerian Police Force is a disciplined and professional institution committed to upholding peace and order, and it will not tolerate any form of incitement or hate speech that threatens the nation’s harmony.
In light of the situation, the Commissioner of Police, CP Rabi’u Muhammad, called on the public to remain calm and report any similar incidents to the police, emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace across the country.
