Again, el-Rufai Relaxes 24-hour Curfew on Kaduna

The Kaduna State Government has relaxed the 24 hour curfew, which was re-imposed on Kaduna metropolis and its environs last Friday.

The atmosphere in the city was charged following the news of the killing of a traditional ruler, the Agwom Adara, Mr. Maiwada Raphael Galadima, by his abductors.

The traditional ruler who was abducted on October 19, while traveling from Kaduna to his palace in Kachia, was killed a week later by his abductors after collecting an undisclosed sum of money as ransom.

The state government in a statement issued yesterday by Samuel Aruwan, spokesman to Governor Nasir el-Rufai, announced that the curfew had been relaxed in Kaduna metropolis and environs.

He said “residents can move around today (Sunday) till 5 p.m.”

The statement said “from tomorrow (today), October 29, residents are free to move from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Markets and banks are expected to reopen. Night time curfew remains”.

Residents had experienced untold hardship during the curfew period while businesses and commercial activities were negatively affected.

Aruwan disclosed on Saturday that 32 suspects were arrested in connection with the renewed violence on Friday.

There had been tension and security concerns in the city and its environs since October 18, following the killing of over 70 people in a bloody ethno-religious clashes in Kasuwan Magani, Kajuru Local Government Area of the state.

The situation of things took a different dimension following the killing of the traditional ruler by suspected kidnappers.