Kannywood directors: We may challenge ban on police uniforms if…

Some directors in Kano-based Hausa film industry, popularly known as Kannywood, have reacted to the ban on the use of police uniforms in films by the Nigeria Police Force.

The Star recalls that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, in a statement issued on Sunday, said filmmakers, comedians, and skit makers have been banned from using police uniforms and other skits in their movies without explicit permission from the police as the law entails.

Baba, in a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, added that the actors must stop portraying the police in bad-light or ridiculing it in their activities.

However, a prominent director in Kannywood, Aminu Saira, in an interview with BBC Hausa, said they would consider, or study the directive if it is in line with Nigeria’s laws before deciding to comply with it.

Saira stated that if their findings show they were not contravening any law, they would join hands with Nollywood to challenge the directive in a court of law.

He said: “The police and filmmakers are all guided by Nigeria’s laws. All people residing in Nigeria must subject themselves to Nigeria’s laws.

“So, if Nigeria’s law prohibits use of police kits in films, we must abide by that, we must respect the law of the Land. We have no alternative.

“But if the law doesn’t prohibit it, then we will do everything jointly with Nollywood to seek legal interpretation of the law whether or not police kits can be used.”

According to him, Kannywood has already been seeking permission on police-related scenes in their films from Kano State Commissioner of Police.

He said due to some incidents that happened in the past, they were ordered to seek permission in any role relating to police in their films.

“Right now, there is a company that was certified by the police which specialises in processing anything related to police such as guns, uniform, etc, that would be used in films. You send the script to them and they will consider it and seek for permit from the police,” the director added.

Another director, Aminu Bono, who said there was little, or no consultation from the IGP, argued that it was impossible globally to restrict use of uniforms such as lawyers, soldiers or doctors’ by filmmakers because they were replicating realities of their respective societies.

He noted that in all their films, they acquire permit from the police.

“We in Kano State, there is a department that takes care of such things under Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO). The Police sometimes visit our shooting locations and guide us on how to do things related to police activities.

“We did films that affect the police directly where we used facilities of Kano Police Command Headquarters. In flms like ‘Kwana Casa’in and ‘Barazana’, we worked closely with the police,” Bono said.

He further stated that the police have representatives in Kano State Films Censorship Board where Kannywood films are checked prior to their public debut.

He said the IGP could still review the ban with informed discussion with relevant stakeholders.

The Star