National Telescope national telescope newspaper
Lami Victor KADUNA
The Kaduna State Security Council has declared a 24-hour curfew in the metropolitan cities of Kaduna and Zaria in response to ongoing protests.
The unrest, driven by thousands of youths demanding an end to what they describe as bad governance, prompted the council’s decision.
Despite that some areas in Kaduna have regained normalcy, significant numbers of protesters remain on the streets.
Though President Bola Tinubu addressed the nation, urging calm; however, the demonstrators felt that their concerns were not adequately addressed, as a result, tensions continued to rise.
In a statement released on Monday, Samuel Aruwan, the Overseeing Commissioner for the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, announced the curfew, noting the decision’s importance for maintaining peace.
“The Kaduna State Security Council, under the leadership of Governor Uba Sani, has reviewed the security situation in the State and issued the following directives,” Aruwan stated.
The statement highlighted that the protests had been hijacked by criminal elements, leading to the looting of shops and the destruction of both private and public property.
Given these developments, the council unanimously resolved to impose a 24-hour curfew on Kaduna and Zaria Metropolises and surrounding areas, effective immediately.
Aruwan urged citizens to remain indoors, allowing security forces to work on restoring order and ensuring public safety.
He also mentioned that the situation would be closely monitored, and the curfew could be adjusted as necessary.
The imposition of the curfew underscores the gravity of the situation and the state’s commitment to preventing further escalation of violence.
While the protesters’ grievances focus on broader issues of governance, the immediate concern is public safety and preventing further damage to property.
The ongoing protests in Kaduna and Zaria reflect broader discontent within the country, raising important questions about the state of governance and the need for responsive leadership.
