Yobe State Government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Potiskum, Gashua and Nguru areas of the state after some hoodlums reportedly cashed in on the hardship protest to loot government property.
By Emma Ogbuehi
The Yobe State Government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Potiskum, Gashua and Nguru areas of the state after some hoodlums reportedly cashed in on the harship protest to loot government property. Borno has also taken similar steps as the protest gets out of hand.
The Special Adviser to the Yobe Governor on Security matters, Brig. Gen Dahiru Abdussallam (retd), who made the disclosure in a statement on Thursday said the curfew would be fully enforced.
The release reads:
“The Yobe State Government has considered the security situation in Potiskum, Gashua, and Nguru towns where some hoodlums are taking advantage of the protest to vandalize and loot government and private properties.
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“In view of the above therefore, the state government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Potiskum, Gashua and Nguru. The public is hereby advised to abide by the curfew order and stay at home for peace to reign in these areas and the state at large.
“The Security Agencies have been directed to ensure enforcement and full compliance of the curfew order,” the statement read.
In Borno, the State government has taken similar measure in response to ongoing nationwide hunger protests and a recent bomb explosion in the State.
The curfew announcement was made by the spokesperson for the State Police Command, Nahum Kenneth Daso, in a statement on Thursday.
The decision comes in the wake of a bomb explosion at a local tea joint in the state earlier on Wednesday.
Reports indicated that the explosion resulted in the deaths of 19 people, although the police have confirmed 16 fatalities. The incident has raised significant security concerns, prompting immediate action from state authorities.
“In view of the constitutional mandate of the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security and law enforcement agencies toward preservation of law and order in the state, the curfew is deemed necessary,” said Daso. “You are all aware of the incident that took place at Kawori, where an improvised explosive device detonated, leading to the death of 16 persons and causing critical injuries to several others, who are now receiving treatment in various government hospitals in the state.”
The statement emphasised that the curfew was declared in the interest of peace. “In line with our constitutional mandate towards the restoration of law and order, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umar Zulum, in consultation with heads of security in the state, finds it expedient to declare a 24-hour curfew in the state with immediate effect.”
Earlier in the day, the Digital Innovation Park, a technology hub in Kano, designed to support Nigeria’s technical talent accelerator program (3MTT), was reportedly set ablaze and looted during the protests.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani in bemoaning the action, stated; “Sad to learn that our Digital Innovation Park in Kano slated for launch next week to support our technical talent accelerator (3MTT) has been set ablaze and looted by protesters”.