Kaduna State Government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Kaduna town and environs with immediate effect following renewed violence in Southern Kaduna.
Samuel Aruwan, the senior special assistant to the state governor on Media and Publicity, stated this on Sunday, October 21, 2018, in Kaduna.
The government announced the curfew following outcry from political leaders like Olusegun Mimiko, a frontline presidential hopeful, who condemned the silence over the renewed spat of killings in the troubled northwestern state.
“This silence is too costly. We cannot afford it,” Dr. Mimiko wrote on Saturday, October 20, 2018. “Although the descent of compassion fatigue and psychic numbing is almost inevitable, we must not be drained of our fight nor weary of donating our voices. Otherwise when it comes to us all, NONE will speak for us #Kadunakillings”
This silence is too costly. We cannot afford it.
Although the descent of Compassion Fatigue and Psychic Numbing is almost inevitable, we must not be drained of our fight nor weary of donating our voices.
Otherwise when it comes to us all, NONE will speak for us #Kadunakillings
— Dr Olusegun Mimiko (@Segunmimiko) October 20, 2018
The former Ondo governor’s tweet generated reactions and a backlash on the government for its inaction over the killings which reports say have claimed at least 100 lives.
https://twitter.com/SKSolaKuti/status/1054014117915312129
“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,” Governor Nasir El-Rufai tweeted.
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.
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.
“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.
