The government of Kaduna state has issued a warning to criminal elements regrouping as protesters that they will not be spread by law enforcement security agents.
The new decision was communicated by Samuel Aruwan, the commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs in the State. He explained that unapproved processions in the state remain prohibited due to the safety concerns of the public.
According to the statement, the recent decision has become necessary after a recent intelligence report in the state showed that criminals were using legitimate organised protest as an avenue to carry out criminal activities and loot people’s properties, causing anarchy and a breakdown of law and order.
The commissioner established that the council fully recognised the right of citizens to freedom of expression, which is a fundamental human right, and freedom of assembly, but not that such freedoms are limited and that in such cases, the security agencies will not permit their misuse.
The council’s statement further advised citizens to take note of the 6 pm—8 am curfew and alert the security of any breakdown of law and order. He explained that the state security operations Room has been established to handle and respond to such incidences in the state. He noted that the development of the operations room was to maintain law and order in the state due to the recent incidences of violence and unrest.
The statement further criticised the ugly event on the first and fifth of August 2024; according to him, the incident indicated that criminals in the state were insisting on criminal protest to take the state into a situation of unrest with the claim of a genuine protest.
Mr Samuel, in the statement, explained that the new intelligence revealed that the criminals in the violent protest were recruiting children from individuals who have been known to be irresponsible. He notes that the end point of such actions will affect the state in the long run.
He reiterated that the government of Kaduna state would not allow any individual in the state to carry out any activity that would take the state into a situation that would affect the peace and stability of the state. According to him, every criminal in the state will be arrested and treated as one.
He advised the citizens to report all incidents of crime and disturbance to the special security numbers of the state which are 09034000060, 08170189999
Kaduna state has been hit most by the ongoing Nationwide protest against hunger and bad governance. The protests in the state have claimed the lives of different citizens in the state.
The protest on the first day led to a violent clash, which led to several individuals sustaining different degrees of injuries. The protesters had clashed with security forces at the entrance of the government house.
On Wednesday, a soldier was arrested by the army after footage of him killing a 16-year-old protester surfaced online; the 16-year-old from Zaria was shot after a clash between some protesters who regrouped after the initial protest was suspended in the state.
One of the great concerns in the state during the protest was protesters weaving the Russian flag, chanting an anti-government song, and calling for help from Russian President Vladimir Putin. Some of the protesters called for the removal of the president.
The curfew was initially declared for 24 hours, but the current reviews have made it easier for the residents to carry out their daily activities from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. when the curfew commences.
