Katsina bans protests, declares 24-hour curfew in Dutsinma LG

The Katsina state government has imposed a 24-hour curfew in Dutsinma LGA.

In a statement on Friday, Abdullahi Garba-Faskar, secretary to the state government, said Faruq Jobe, the acting governor, has also banned unusual gatherings and all types of protests across the state.

He said the decision followed an emergency security council meeting convened over the nationwide protest.

“The acting governor had earlier received a group of civil society organizations who were on a peaceful demonstration at the government house and pledged to deliver their messages to the appropriate authority,” the statement reads.

“However, later government received reports that some miscreants had hijacked the protest and unleashed their ulterior motives of shop breaking, looting and vandalisation of public and private properties.

“Therefore, the government found it necessary to impose these measures to safeguard people’s lives and properties in the state.”

He urged residents to remain peaceful, adding that security agencies have been directed to arrest any individual or groups of persons violating the orders.

Meanwhile, the state police command has arrested 50 suspected hoodlums “for vandalising public properties” during the protest.

Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, spokesperson of the command, also said there were no fatalities from police intervention during the protest.

“We wish to dismiss the misinformation that police personnel shot live ammo at protesters, resulting in loss of lives,” he said.

“We assure the members of the public that our officers exercised the maximum level of restraint and professionalism in handling the violent protesters.

“There is no record of any fatalities resulting from police actions as of the time of these reports.”