A 24-hour curfew has been imposed on Jema’a and Kaura local government areas (LGAs) of Kaduna State.
This followed a protest in Kafanchan over killings and destruction of communities in the Southern Kaduna area.
Thousands of the protesters carried placards calling on the government to put a stop to the attacks.
Trouble broke out, however when the protesters were challenged by another group from the area.
Armed mobile policemen came to the place around 10 a.m. and started firing tear gas into the crowd.
The Interim Management Committee (IMC) chairman of Kaura local
government, Mr. Alex Musa Iya, said he and his colleague in Jema’a LG,
Dr. Humble Katuka, had to take steps to restrict movement for now due to
the security situation.
He said: “It is true that IMC chairman of Jema’a LGA has declared a
24-hour curfew on the entire Jema’a LGA with emphasis on Kafanchan.
After studying the situation, I thought it expedient to also restrict
movement in Kaura for 24 hours due to the proximity of the two areas. I
am happy to inform you that there is calm everywhere now. We shall study
the situation and take all the necessary steps to ensure peace and
security. The intention is not to hurt anyone. We call on our people to
please co-operate in the interest of everyone.”
Earlier in a telephone interview said the Jema’a Local Government
interim chairman, Bege Katuka, said, “As a responsible government, it
was incumbent on the council to take proactive measures to guarantee the
safety of lives and property.”
He urge the people to be calm and remain indoors until the situation improved.
Spokesperson of the youths who carried out the protest yesterday, Mr
Nathan Chaweson, expressed regret over ‘the high level of impunity’
exhibited by the perpetuators of the various attacks in Southern Kaduna
in recent times ‘even with the presence of security operatives’ at
flashpoints.
“Throughout the period the attacks lasted, no single arrest had been
recorded. We are pushed to the wall to question the innocence of the
government in what has been happening,” Chaweson said.
He challenged the government to rise to the responsibility of
protecting lives and property in all parts of the state to give everyone
a sense of belonging.
Credit: dailytrust