Business activities in Katsina State have come to a standstill due to the #EndBadGovernance protests.
Most business owners have closed their shops out of fear of being attacked or looted after the state government announced a curfew.
The State Police Command reported that it has arrested over fifty suspects in connection with the destruction and looting of government and public properties during the protest.
The movement of people and goods has been restricted in some vulnerable areas of Katsina State.
During a monitoring session in the state capital, Channels Television observed a heavy deployment of police officers patrolling various hotspots, including the GRA Roundabout, New Katsina Government House Junction, and the Kofar Sauri T-junction, which was the focal point of Thursday’s protest.
In a statement on Thursday night, Katsina police spokesman Abubakar Sadiq said efforts are being intensified to arrest individuals connected to the looting of private and public properties.
The statement also urged parents and guardians to caution their children and wards against engaging in illegal activities, such as violent protests, vandalism, and looting of properties.
The statement further encouraged the youths to exercise restraint and avoid being manipulated into perpetuating violence.
It also mentioned that the command, in collaboration with other security agencies, will be conducting regular patrols to ensure strict compliance with the curfew imposed across the state. Anyone found violating the curfew will face decisive action.
The public was also urged to cooperate with the security agencies and remain indoors during the curfew hours.
On Thursday night, the State Government imposed a 24-hour curfew in the Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area and a 7:00 pm to 7:00 am curfew throughout the remaining 33 Local Government Areas.
This decision was made following an Emergency State Security Council meeting in response to the breakdown of law and order in some parts of the state due to the nationwide protest.
The Acting Governor, Malam Faruk Jobe, in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Abdullahi Faskari, also banned unusual gatherings and all types of protests across the state.
According to the statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Secretary to the State Government, Malam Abdullahi Yar’adua, reports indicated that some miscreants had hijacked the protest, leading to shop break-ins, looting, and vandalization of public and private properties.
The statement emphasized that these measures were necessary to safeguard lives and properties in the state.
It also noted that the acting governor had earlier received a group of Civil Society Organizations who were peacefully demonstrating at the government house and had pledged to deliver their messages to the appropriate authorities.
People were therefore warned to remain calm and law-abiding as security agencies had been directed to arrest anyone violating the orders.
The Acting Governor also appealed to the state’s residents to continue their legitimate activities during the free movement period.
Channels Television reported yesterday that several people were fatally injured and property worth millions of naira was destroyed as the nationwide hunger protest in Katsina State turned violent.
This incident occurred after a large group of protesters carrying various placards and tree leaves stormed the Katsina government house to express their grievances and urge the Federal Government to take action.
However, some hoodlums reportedly hijacked the protest, looting shops and vandalizing property belonging to residents before the protesters reached their destination.
This as a result triggered security personnel to fire several gunshots at the protesting youths to maintain law and order which in turn, dispersed the aggrieved protesters.
Channels Television while monitoring the situation gathered that some of the victims including police officers and a DPO, were given various medical treatments at the Katsina government house clinic.