August 23, (THEWILL) – Police in Sokoto State have imposed a curfew in Sabon Birni town. The curfew followed violent protests by youths over the killing of their District Head, Isa Muhammad Bawa, who was murdered in captivity a few days ago.
The Command’s spokesperson, ASP Ahmed Rufa’i, in a statement, announced that movement in the area is restricted between 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM until further notice.
He added that the curfew is aimed at restoring law and order in the troubled community.
Hundreds of youths took to the streets, blocking major roads and setting bonfires in protest. A resident who witnessed the protest said that some irate youths attempted to set fire to the local government secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a courtroom located nearby.
The youths were also reported to have broken into a local government store, where they destroyed supplies of fertiliser.
Turakin Gobir, the son of the slain district head, informed reporters that security reinforcements had been deployed to the area.
“We have been hearing gunshots since morning, but the protest is still ongoing at 8:00 PM, which indicates that the curfew is not yet fully effective”, he said.
The protesters are demanding a thorough investigation into the killing, insisting that those responsible must not escape justice.
Meanwhile, the Sokoto State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ has condoled with the family of the Late District Head.
The statement which was jointly signed by the State Chairman and Secretary, Dalhatu Abdullahi Safiyal Magori and Nasiru Bello Muhammad respectively, described his death as sad and shocking happening to the entire State and beyond.
The Council, however, prayed to God to forgive the diseased Monarch all his shortcomings and accommodate him in Jannatul Firdausi.
Earlier, the State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto in his condolence message had described the circumstances leading to the demise of the late monarch as very unfortunate, barbaric, inhumane, and condemnable.
The governor, in a statement released by his Press Secretary, Abubakar Bawa said he received the sad news of the death of the district head with deep shock, describing the monarch as pious, upright, honest and a peace-loving personality who dedicated his life to the service of his people and humanity as a whole.
The governor reiterated that his administration is doing a lot and would continue to use all the available resources to bring banditry to an end, and appealed to the people of the State to support Security agencies with relevant information so as to nip banditry in the bud.
He further called on people to continue to pray to Almighty Allah to assist the present administration in its quest to rid the state of banditry and other criminal activities.
Aliyu charged the security agencies in the state to intensify efforts to secure the State at all times and ensure that the killers of the late monarch are fished out and made to face the full wrath of the law.
Tunde Omolehin is an award-winning Journalist with prose in investigative and storytelling that is connecting the dots between the under-reported communities and policymakers to ensure good governance and accountability.
