Kaduna Govt Imposes 24-hour Curfew
- IG deploys special intervention force
By Alex Enumah in Abuja and John Shiklam in Kaduna
The Kaduna State Government yesterday imposed a 24-hour curfew on Kaduna city and its environs to avert breakdown of law and order.
This is coming as the Inspector General of Police (IG), Ibrahim Idris, has deployed a Police Special intervention Force, to be headed by the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 7 Headquarters in charge of Kaduna State, Niger State and the FCT as part of efforts to contain the recent killings and destruction of property in Kasuwar Magani part of the state.
Meanwhile, Fresh violence erupted around 4 p.m yesterday in Mararaban Rido and Sabon Tasha areas of the city leading to tension and apprehension as residents rushed back from shops, church activities and the markets to their homes.
The streets were empty as motorists and commercial vehicles deserted all major roads within the city.
This is however, as a result of last Thursday’s bloody clashes between Muslims and Christians in Kasuwan Magani community in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state. The state government in a statement by Samuel Aruwan, media aide to Governor Nasir el-Rufai, said a 24 hour curfew has been imposed on the state capital and environs.
According to the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Jimoh Moshood, the police would be on ground to enforce the curfew.
“The operations will cover the entire Kasuwar Magani and environs, and other flash/trouble spots in Kaduna State.
“The Police Special Intervention Forces will be working in synergy with the Kaduna State Police Command to ensure that total peace and normalcy are restored and sustained in Kasuwar Magani and environs”, he said.
Moshood added that in other to achieve its objectives the Special 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 Kasuwar 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 Kasuwar Magani, Kajuru Local Government Area (LGA) and environs”, he added.
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 Kasuwar Magani, Kajuru, Kaduna State.
The police however enjoined traditional, religious leaders, public office holders, politicians and parents to prevail on their subjects, supporters, children and wards to support the police in its efforts at restoring normalcy in the area.
Meanwhile, the police have arrested and are currently investigating one Dr. Kasim Abdulganiyu for giving false information, telling falsehood and misleading Police to execute search warrant in the house of Ambassador Ibrahim Zakari, former DG, National Intelligence Agency (NIA) in Kaduna, Kaduna State.
The informant, according to the police, informed and made voluntary statement to the Police on August 20, 2018 that firearms and ammunition were stocked in the house of one Ibrahim Zakari and five others on Sultan Road, Malali Area, Kaduna, Kaduna State before the Police team obtained and executed a valid search warrant in the house on the August 28, 2018 and nothing incriminating was found.
Moshood however, said the informant, Abdulganiyu of No. 21 Colorado Crescent, Ministers Hills, Abuja will be arraigned in court for giving false information and telling falsehood to mislead police action without further delay.
