2 Nigerian Governors Declare 24-hour Curfew as Hoodlums Hijack Protest, Details Emerge

Protests in two major states have turned violent as governors, employees Mai Mala Buni of Kano and Abba Kabir Yusuf of Yobe State imposed 24-hour curfew on Potiskum Gashua and Nguru areas. Brig. Gen Dahiru Abdussallam (retd), Special Adviser on Security to Governor Buni announced this in a statement released today Thursday, August 1st

The curfew was declared following complaints that hoodlums had looted public assets during protests over starvation. To this end, Abdussallam stressed that the curfew would be strictly observed to ensure law and order. Accordingly, a 24-hour curfew has been declared on Potiskum, Gashua and Nguru by the state government. Members of the public are indifferent to warning not to flout sundown-to-sunrise curfew lockdown order, ambience for temporal peace across these locations and indeed entire state,” he noted.

The governor Yusuf, in a press conference on the same day at the Government House, reiterated his position on curfew. “After much thought, we have agreed that there should be a 24-hour curfew to prevent looting and vandalizing of businesses as well as killing of innocent people,” he said.

This move follows violent turn of events in Kano during the #EndBadGovernance protests that led to looting and vandalism at Nigeria Communication Commissions (NCC) owned ICT Park in Kano. The park was intended for commissioning to support ICT innovations and start-ups in the Northwest.

The ongoing unrest shows a growing discontent among population with anger escalating into violence towards government and private properties. By imposing a curfew, it is anticipated to contain further attacks and protect lives and property.

They both asked their citizens not to violate this night time rule order for the sake of safety while they try to bring back peace in those affected regions. The relevant authorities are determined to avoid an escalation of tensions with an aim of returning everything back to normality at earliest convenience possible.

This move underscores the delicate balance the government must maintain between addressing public grievances and maintaining law and order. The curfew will only be in place for a while, and the governors have promised those who were protesting that actions are being taken to deal with the root cause of their problems.