24- hour curfew reimposed in Kaduna
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- Category: Latest
- Published on Tuesday, 19 June 2012 15:58
- Written by Admin
[The Nation] The Kaduna State government has reintroduced the 24- hour curfew throughout the state as a result of renewed tension in the metropolis. The move is to avoid further breakdown of law and order in the city. In Damaturu, Yobe State, authorities
also slapped a round-the-clock curfew as fresh gunfire rocked the state capital.
The government had relaxed the curfew on Monday, a move that security sources said was not in the best interest of the state.
The wreckage of a car and the body of a suicide bomber remained on the side of the Sharon Church after it was struck by a suicide bomber's attack, in Kaduna. Photo: Getty Images
At about 10.30am on Tuesday, there was commotion across the city as people began to run for safety following gunshot by soldiers apparently to disperse some youths who reportedly mobilized from the Tudun Wada area, setting burn fire and threatening to avenge the killing of their brothers in Sunday’s reprisal attacks.
The reprisals followed the triple explosion in churches in Kaduna and Zaria.
Residents who had taken opportunity of the relaxation of the curfew to go to their offices and places of business hurriedly lock up their business premises and rush home for fear of being caught up in the wrong side of the town.
Those heading for the city centre had to hurriedly make u-turn, while the news of the shooting in the city centre filtered across the metropolis forcing youths in the southern part to also mobilize and stayed in front of their houses in other not to be caught unaware.
In a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Media, Reuben Buhari, the decision of the government to re-impose the curfew is to allow the government continues with its responsibility of safeguarding lives and properties.
The statement reads, “In view of certain new security challenges that came up today and based on the need for the state government to continue with its responsibility of safeguarding the lives and properties of its citizens, the state government is hereby re-imposing a 24 -hour curfew in all parts of the state.
“This curfew covers all the 23 local government areas of the state. As unpalatable as this decision is, the state government is doing it in the best interest of the state. Consequently, everybody is strongly advised to go back home now while security agencies continue with the task of ensuring total peace in the state.”
In Damaturu, residents reported being confined to their homes and offices due to the continuing gunfire in the city, which has previously been hit by Boko Haram Islamists.
A senior official at a Damaturu hospital told AFP that the gunfire which broke out on Monday has caused casualties, but that the streets were too dangerous for rescue workers to move around.
"We have been holed up in the hospital since yesterday. We can't leave because it is not safe to go out. The morgue is empty now although there are dead bodies on the street," said the official, who requested anonymity.
"Fighting is still going on in some parts of the city and the streets are totally deserted."
"In view of the prevailing security situation in the state capital, (the governor) has approved the immediate imposition of a 24-hour curfew within Damaturu metropolis," said a government statement.
The commander of a military task force in Yobe State, Colonel Dahiru Abdussalam, said the latest unrest started Monday after authorities arrested a Boko Haram suspect, prompting other members of the group to respond by setting off explosives and shooting indiscriminately.
