Movement restricted as riot breaks out in Zamfara over killings

The police have restricted movement in Tsafe local government area of Zamfara state following unrest in the area.

Some internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Tsafe had taken to the streets to protest the recent killings in the state.

The protest lit bonfires, destroyed some vehicles and set the secretariat of Tsafe local government on fire.

The police deployed officers to bring the situation under control but the protesters refused to back down.

Muhammad Shehu, police public relations officer in the state, later announced that movement had been restricted between 6pm and 7am.

Shehu said some weapons were recovered from the violent protesters, adding that those arrested will be paraded soon.

He said normalcy had been restored in Tsafe and its environs and that police and other security agencies were in total control of the situation, “with rigorous patrol, stop and search and continuous raiding of identified criminal hideouts ongoing”.

“The commissioner of police Zamfara state command, Mr Usman A. Belel along with the brigade commander and other heads of security agencies visited Tsafe in the early hours of today to assess the security situation and ensure total regards to law and order,” he said in a statement.

“The security chiefs also visited the Emir’s palace and assured the Emir of determination and total commitment of the police and other security Agencies to arrest and bring to justice the perpetrators of this dastardly act.

“The command appeals for continued support and cooperation from members of the public by giving the police and other security agencies timely information on activities of disgruntled elements in the state for prompt action.”