Malik Yahya/
Following the unabating violence that has rocked several parts of Kaduna State, the state government today imposed a 24-hour curfew on Kaduna, the state capital, and its environs.
The curfew is a fallout of the violence in Kasuwan Magani in Kajuru Local Government area, where a market dispute between porters led to the killing of 55 people and the burning of many homes, between 18 and 19 October.
Some residents told NewsmakersNG that the violence had spread to some parts of Kaduna metropolis today, prompting the imposition of the curfew by the government.
They listed some of the affected areas to include Sabo, Kakori and Kachina road, all in central Kaduna.
They claimed the violence had already claimed many lives, especially among christians, before the announcement of the curfew.
The notice of the curfew was announced by Governor Nasir El-Rufai in a Twitter post this evening.
The tweet said the decision was taken in the best interest of the state and urged residents to comply.
The tweet by the governor reads: “This is a notice of a 24-hour curfew imposed on Kaduna town and environs, with immediate effect. Residents are advised to comply by this directive. The decision has been taken in the best interest of the state.”
Also, to put an end to this crisis, the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris has deployed the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 7 Headquarters in charge of Kaduna State, Niger State and the FCT to lead the Police Special Intervention Force.
The force comprises four Units of Police Mobile Force (PMF) specially trained Anti Riot Policemen, Counter Terrorism Unit, Conventional Policemen, Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad (FSARS), Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU), State Intelligence Bureau (SIB), detachment of EOD, Police K9 (Sniffer Dogs Section), already on ground at Kasuwan Magani, Kajuru, Kaduna State.
Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Jimoh Moshood stated today that “the operations will cover the entire Kasuwan Magani and environs, and other flash/trouble spots in Kaduna State.
“To achieve success in the operations, the Force will be proactive and strict in the enforcement of its mandates, Police standard operations procedures and rules of engagement.
“The Force will ensure the full enforcement of the curfew imposed on Kasuwan Magani and environs by the Kaduna State Government.
“The personnel of the Police special Intervention Force will carry out 24-hour surveillance and patrol, stop and search; continuous raids of identified criminal hideouts and black spots, with a view to arrest promptly trouble makers, their sponsors and nip in the bud any further attempt to cause violence and other criminality in the area.
“The deployment of the personnel will equally cover communities, towns, villages, vulnerable points, Government and private infrastructures and facilities in Kasuwan Magani, Kajuru Local Government Area and environs.”
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