Kano Commission Of Inquiry On Political Violence Holds Inaugural Sitting, Pledges Fairness

By Abdullahi Yusuf

The Kano State Commission of Inquiry For Political Violence and Cases of Missing Persons that occurred in the state from 2015 to 2023, on Monday held its Inaugural sitting with a promise to be dispassionate in the discharge of its mandate.

At the sitting which held at Kano High Court,Miller Road,Kano, the Commission also pledged to carry out its assignment diligently, fairly and without fear or ill-will.

The Chairperson of the Commission, Justice Zuwaira Yusuf, who stated this during the sitting, also said that the essence of the Commission is to find out the causes and factors that instigate political violence in the State.

“Similarly, the Commission is mandated
to investigate the rampant cases of missing persons and to make
recommendations for enduring solutions to these 2 issues,” Justice Zuwaira said.

The Commission,she said was inviting individuals, groups, Civil Society Organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOS) as well as victims and relatives of the victims of political violence, and missing persons to submit memoranda or petition to the Commission from today.

“Such memoranda/petitions are to be submitted to the Registry of the Commission
which is situated in this Court premises.

“I will also assure the general public that the Commission is there to serve them,
that their petitions would be looked into and where necessary would be called
upon to give oral evidence,” the Chairperson said.

She gave the terms of reference of the Commission as:

“To find out the root causes of the Political and other forms of violence
in Kano State;

“To identify areas where violence associated with the 2015, 2019 and
2023 general elections occurred in Kano State;

“To identify sponsors and perpetrators of political and other forms of
violence during and in-between elections in Kano State;

“To identify all missing persons in the State and determine the
circumstances as well as the immediate and remote causes of their
missing;

“To identify victims of all forms of violence including politically
motivated, State-sponsored, etc associated with the 2015, 2019 and
2023 General elections and assess the damage/losses of lives and
properties during the period;

“To suggest ways of supporting the victims of all forms of violence in
the State;

“To facilitate and ensure that the sponsors and perpetrators of the
2015, 2019 and 2023 political and other forms of violence are brought
to justice;

“To recommend effective ways of preventing politically motivated and
State-sponsored violence and any other forms of violence in the
State; and

“To advise on any other matter incidental to the assignment.”