By Mohammed Abubakar Dutse
Following the destruction that trailed the Day one of the #EndBadGovernance protest nationwide which turned violent in Jigawa state, the state government has slammed a 24-hour curfew in all local government councils in the state.
The action was to forestall further escalation of the violence situation.
The curfew, which is to remain indefinite, was announced on Thursday night following an emergency meeting of the State Security Council meeting, chaired by Governor Umar Namadi, however, made a two and a half provision for Muslim residents to observe the Friday Jummah
Namadi, who announced the measures in a state-wide media broadcast described the development as unprecedented and unheard of in the history of the state.
However, hours after the announcement of the curfew, hundreds of youths were seen trooping out on the street on Friday
According to the governor, “The situation in which the peaceful demonstration turned violent characterized by destruction and looting is totally unaccepted and it is not in our culture, therefore we will not fold our hands and allow it to continue unabated.
”To ensure the return of peace and stability we announced 24 hours curfew, how ever for today Friday the curfew will be relax between 12:00 to 02:30 pm to allow people to attend Friday mosque”
“Together with security agencies we will continue to study the situation and take appropriate action to safeguard the lives and properties of people against miscreants and hoodlums across the state” Namadi declared.
He added: ‘Because of the reverned we have for Friday, we’ll allow our Muslims Ummah to go for their Jumma’a prayers between 12: noon -2:30 pm after which they will return to their homes and remain indoors indefinitely while we continue to review the situation from time to time.”
However, in spite of the curfew imposed by the Jigawa State Government on protests, hundreds of youths continued the protest against hardship for the second day in some parts of Dutse, the Jigawa State capital on Friday.
It was gathered that a combined team of security agencies were seen battling with protesters around Zai area of the city, blocking them from trooping into the commercial and other areas of the state capital as well as major buildings and stores.
A resident of the area, who declined to be named said that thousands of youths who were chanting different anti-government slogans resisted the teargas fired to desperse them by the security operatives.
However, at Shuwarin in Kiyawa local government area thousands of youths regrouped and continued with demonstrations for the second day.
The protesters, who attemptes o get into the state capital centre were however, overpowered by heavy security mounted to barricade the road who fired teargas to disperse the protesters.
An eyewitness in the area confirmed that youths, including underaged boys were arrested by the police on Friday.
In a related development, the Jigawa Police Command has confirmed the arrest of 55 persons so far in respect of the demonstration.
The police in a statement by it’s Public Relations Office in Dutse on Friday said it has recovered 35 motorcycles; three tricycles, 12 bicycles, 111 bags of fertilizer, nine chairs and 40 cartons of mosquito nets.
It also confirmed that the the hoodlums broke into Hadejia local government secretariat and set fire on six parked vehicles.
They also vandalized Jigaea Agricultural Rural Development Authority (JARDA) store, made away with fertilizer and food stuff in Gumel local government area.
It also said the protesters set fire on the house of a National Assembly member, representing Gagarawa/ Gumel/Maigatari/Sule Tankakar Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, one Nazifi Sani Gumel.
Besides, the protesters vandalized National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) office, looted APC state secretariat and set it ablaze.
The protesters also attacked and vandaliised the Jigawa Agricultural Supply Company (JASCO) store and carted away fertilizer and foodstuff in Birnin Kudu local government area, and confirmed an attack on the personal home of the senator representing Jigawa. North West in the Senate Babangida Hussaini in his hometown of Kazaure local government area.
News5 days ago