NATIONWIDE PROTESTS: 24-hour Curfew Imposed On Kaduna, Zaria As Protests Turn Deadly (Watch video)
By Elizabeth Austin, Lagos
A 24-hour curfew has been imposed on Kaduna and Zaria cities, effective immediately, as anti-government protests turned violent, resulting in at least 13 reported fatalities.
The Kaduna state government announced the curfew after an emergency security council meeting, citing the need to restore order and maintain public safety.
“The situation has spiraled out of control, and we must take drastic measures to protect our citizens,” said Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan.
According to the government of Kaduna, the protests, which began peacefully, were hijacked by criminal elements who resorted to looting and destruction of private and public properties.
It further disclosed that security forces had been deployed to maintain law and order.
In a statement, signed by Samuel Aruwan, the government advised residents to refrain from outdoor movements, assuring that “the curfew will be reviewed as necessary but as for now the city remains under lockdown”.
The statement partly reads:
“In view of this unfortunate development, the Kaduna State Security Council has unanimously resolved to impose a 24-hour curfew on Kaduna and Zaria metropolises and environs with immediate effect. Citizens are advised to remain indoors while security forces continue to work to maintain safety and security. Monitoring will be sustained for review of the curfew as required.”
This is even as Kaduna remains the latest state where a curfew has been declared amid the protest, following Kano and Jigawa states.
The Kano government relaxed the curfew on Monday, adjusting the restriction of movement time from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
However, determined protesters have continued their demonstration into the fifth day of the #EndBadGovernance and Hunger protest in major Nigerian cities, including Lagos, Abuja, and Kaduna, despite President Tinubu’s speech calling for a suspension of the social demonstration.
It would be recalled that President Tinubu had, on Sunday, addressed the nation, urging the youth and all protesters to cease their demonstrations and embrace dialogue.
In addition, Tinubu expressed his sorrow over the violent turn of the protests, which have resulted in loss of lives and destruction of property in states such as Borno, Jigawa, Kano, and Kaduna.
He extended his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and decried the looting and damage to public facilities and businesses, which he noted would require significant resources to rebuild.
“I am especially pained by the loss of lives and the destruction of public facilities,” Tinubu stated. “We must stop further bloodshed, violence, and destruction.”
He called on the protesters to suspend further demonstrations and create space for dialogue, stressing that Nigeria needs unity across all divides to reshape its destiny.
“Under the circumstances, I hereby enjoin protesters and the organisers to suspend any further protest and create room for dialogue,” Tinubu said.
Earlier, Famousreporters.com gathered from sources in Kaduna that the ongoing #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria protest in Kaduna took a new twist on Monday as protesters regrouped and set fire to a security patrol vehicle belonging to the Kaduna State Vigilance Service in Rigasa, located in the Igabi Local Government Area.
Also, the Zaria office of the Kaduna State Traffic Law Enforcement Agency was also razed.
Spokesman for the state police command, ASP Mansir Hassan, confirmed that hoodlums vandalised a branch of one of the new generation banks at Tudun Wada in Kaduna South Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Monday.
He said, “Hoodlums broke into the bank and carted away some valuables and also destroyed some vehicles parked within the bank premises.”
He, however, debunked rumours that “a police armoured personnel carrier was snatched by the violent protesters at Tudun Wada.”
Hassan said, “The driver of the armoured vehicle succeeded in manoeuvring the crowd of protesters who climbed on top of the vehicle since it was carrying live ammunition and couldn’t have used maximum force against the crowd.
“On the same day, protesters vandalised several government properties, including the office of the Kaduna State Traffic Law Enforcement Agency on Sokoto Road in the heart of the state. Part of the office was burnt, and furniture and other items were stolen.”
Reportedly, the unexpected escalation has raised concerns about the protests’ direction and the potential involvement of external influences.
This was just as the Kaduna State Security Council, led by Governor Uba Sani, imposed a 24-hour curfew on Kaduna and Zaria metropolitan cities and their environs, effective immediately.
The decision followed a review of the security situation in the state, which revealed that the ongoing protests have been hijacked by criminal elements engaging in looting and destruction of private and public property.
In a statement by the Overseeing Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, citizens were advised to remain indoors while security forces worked to maintain safety and security.
He said the curfew would be reviewed as necessary.
The Kaduna State Government urged citizens to cooperate with the security forces and to report any suspicious activities.
Meanwhile, after a brief period of calm, the protesters, mainly youths and children, reassembled in the city centre, chanting “bama so,” meaning, “we don’t want” in Hausa.
They carried no placards stating their demands, only leaves and the Russian national flags.
According to one of the protesters, who wished to remain anonymous, they were angered by President Bola Tinubu’s failure to announce the return of fuel subsidies in his Sunday address to the nation.
