By Olukayode Babalola & Blessing Ibegbu
TWO local government councils (LGCs) in Nasarawa State have declared dusk to dawn curfew until further notice. This followed eruption of violence in the course of the hunger and hardship protest in the areas.
The chairman of Karu LGC of Nasarawa State, Hon. James Thomas, declared dusk to dawn curfew in the council, as contained in a statement signed by Mr Uba Magaji, Special Senior Adviser on Media and Publicity to the chairman, on Thursday.
Magaji stated that the curfew takes effect immediately, from 6p.m. to 6a.m. until further notice.
According to him, the curfew is imposed as a precautionary measure to ensure adequate security of Karu.
He added that the curfew would restrict movement of people, motorcyclists, tricyclists, motorists and all shops in Karu.
Similarly, Keffi LGC, which borders Karu LGC, also declared a dusk to dawn curfew to curtail violence following the hunger protest.
The action is contained in a statement signed by Alhaji Muhammad Baba-Shehu, chairman of Keffi LGC in Keffi on Thursday.
According to Baba-Shehu, the protest had taken a dimension that is out of control that even miscreants that are unidentified came prepared to loot.
“In view of the foregoing, it has become imperative to stage a dusk to dawn curfew from 6pm to 6am with effect from today Aug. 1, in consultation with the security operatives in Keffi,” he said.
He urged all residents of Keffi to obey the directive forthwith in the best interest of ensuring sanity and as a security measure.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the protesters are protesting against the prevailing hardship and bad governance in the country.
NAN reports that on the first day, protesters blocked the Keffi-Abuja highway preventing motorists from leaving or coming into Keffi metropolis.
NAN further reports that aside the blocking of the highway, protesters in their hundreds also set fire on car tyres and threatened to beat up motorists who refused to retreat. (NAN)
