Borno, Kano, and Yobe state governments have declared a 24-hour curfew following the aftermath of the nationwide hunger protest that have turned into violent in most states across the federation. Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf has declared a curfew during a press conference he convened at the government house Kano yesterday.
The Governor said, “After careful consideration, we have come to terms that 24-hour curfew should be put in place to further prevent looting and vandalisation of businesses and killing of innocent citizens.”
He charged all security agencies in the state to ensure full compliance with the directive to restore peace in the state.
His statement partly said, “While I commend the vast majority of peaceful protesters who stated their concerns responsibly, it is, however, regrettable to say that the whole protest that was meant to be a demonstration of the democratic right to voice our concerns was hijacked by thugs and hoodlums who embarked on the looting of business premises, government properties and maiming of innocent citizens.”
Similarly in Yobe, curfew was also imposed on Potiskum, Gashua and Nguru local government areas after hoodlums posing as protesters took advantage of the situation to vandalise and loot government and private property.
The government of Yobe stated, “The state government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Potiskum, Gashua and Nguru. The public is at this moment advised to abide by the curfew order and stay at home for peace to reign in these areas and the state at large,” the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Brig Gen Dahiru Abdussallam (Rtd).
Borno State Government was not left behind as it did not hesitate to imposed a 24-hour curfew in following a suicide attack that claimed 16 people in Malari, a village in Konduga Local Government Area.
The state’s Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, made the declaration on behave of the Governor during a press conference at the Government House, Maiduguri.
Prof Usman Tar said, “Some people came out to protest, and on the eve of this protest, Boko Haram attacked a village called Malari near Konduga LGA, where 16 people lost their lives and over 20 people are still receiving treatment at Specialists Hospital Maiduguri.”
Tar said the government’s is concern about the risk of violence infiltration by non-state actors, which has already manifested.
“To avert future occurrences, the Borno State government has taken firm decisions to impose a curfew,” he added.
It was learned that at a local tea joint in the in the said village on the eve of the nationwide protest, source revealed that 19 persons were killed, but the police confirmed 16 casualties.
In Katsina state also, Acting Governor of the state, Malam Faruq Lawal, has also declared a 24-hour curfew in Dutsin-Ma LGA and 7pm to 7am in the remaining 33 LGAs. He also banned any kind of protests across the state, saying the decision was to ensure peace and order.