Kaduna residents groan under 24-hour curfew
…as El-Rufai confirms 5 killed in Sunday’s crisis
Residents Kaduna metropolis yesterday resorted to various means to survive the 24-hour curfew imposed by the state government.
The state capital has remained tensed following reports of silent killings that took place the previous night.
This is even as Governor Nasir El-Rufai confirmed the death of five persons as a result of the outbreak of violence in Kaduna on Sunday.
The governor, in a statewide broadcast yesterday, attributed Sunday's mayhem to rumour mongering which, he said, was exploited by hoodlums to engage in “criminal activities” causing the destruction of lives and property.
While condemning the violence and level of destruction caused by the Kasuwan Magani crisis and the Sunday’s stampede, the governor said those behind the violence would be prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others.
He said in that regard, the state government would fast track the prosecution of the arrested 88 persons in connection with the crisis, 63 from a previous crisis at Kasuwan Magani in February and 25 as a result of Thursday's incident.
He said adequate arrangements were made to provide security to those coming into Kaduna from the Kaduna International Airport, the Rigasa Railway Station and the various points of entry by road.
The governor explained that the 24-hour curfew was imposed to forestall further breakdown of law and order, observing that so far, the "overnight security operations achieved the objectives of restoring calm."
El-Rufai urged the people of the state to "reject those who seek to incite and divide us" and to do their best to uphold peace.
He said the State Security Council would meet at 9.00am today (Tuesday) from 9:00 am and re-examine the need to review the 24-hour curfew.
The state government imposed the curfew to forestall further breakdown of law and order.
In areas like Kawo New Extension, Anguwan Dosa, Badarawa, Malali, Anguwan Rimi, Narayi and the Nnamdi Azikiwe Express Way, among other places, youths; armed with various weapons like knives, machetes, swords and sticks; mounted roadblocks on major roads leading to their communities.
Banks and shops remained shut throughout the day and other agencies resorted to various means to protect their members.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen Muhammad Mohammed, also heard how the youth in the Narayi area of Kaduna were killed in the early hours of of yesterday.
The GOC, who was on tour of areas affected by the Sunday's crisis, was told that gunmen came when people were sleeping and abducted three persons.
A youth leader in the area, Emmanuel Godwin, said the gunmen came at about 2:00am in a Hilux Van and claimed they were vigilante members from Barnawa.
Meanwhile, the National Youth Service Corps yesterday advised its members of 2018 batch 'C' deployed to Kaduna to stay at home pending when the government relaxed the curfew
The orientation course, earlier scheduled to commence today, has now been postponed indefinitely following the renewed crisis in the state capital.
NYSC Coordinator in the state, Walida Siddique, who confirmed a statement from the headquarters on this development, said it was to guide against any eventuality.
The statement read in part, "The Management of National Youth Service Corps wishes to inform all 2018 Batch C prospective Corps Members deployed to Kaduna State that the commencement of the Orientation Course earlier scheduled for Tuesday, 23rd October, 2018 has been suspended till further notice due to the current security situation and consequent curfew imposed by the state government.”
Passengers at the various motor parks in different parts of Kaduna had to resort to trekking long distances to get to their destinations yesterday.
One of them, who identified himself as Ben, said he arrived Kaduna from Abuja around 6:00 pm on Sunday when the curfew was already in place.
He said the driver of vehicle he came with the and others had to drop all their passengers at the Abuja Junction as they were not sure what was happening in town.
Most of the drivers at the Television and other parks said they slept at the station, but confirmed that many passengers left barefooted.
Our correspondents learnt however that the train service from Abuja to Kaduna operated yesterday despite the curfew.
One of the officials at the Rigasa Train Station said the four trips per day service from and to Abuja were not suspended.
He said however that the number of passengers coming from Abuja had reduced to about 50 percent of the average per trip.
The state government had announced a restriction of movement at about 5:30 pm on Sunday following outbreak of violence in many parts of the state capital.
The announcement took many by surprise as nobody had expected that the violence that occurred at Kasuwan Magani on Thursday would reignite tension three days later.
Many of the residents said the curfew coming at the verge of end of a weekend, came with additional stress as the stock of food and victuals they had at home was almost exhausted when the restriction order came.
"I was hoping that by Monday, I will be out for my business and fill my car, withdraw money and give my wife as I normally do, but with this now I am not able to do anything, just sitting at home," said Mr. Leo Uzo who lives in Narayi.
In Tudun Wada, Sabon gari and Hayin Bello Rigasa communities, the situation was calm as residents remained indoors due to the curfew.
The popular Kasuwar Barci market located at Aminu Street by Ibrahim Taiwo road Tudun wada was deserted as traders remained at home.
"I was at home all through because of the curfew. The market is closed and only few people were on the road while others remain closed to their houses," Sani a resident of Tudun Wada said
In Sabon Gari area of Tudun Wada and Tudun Nupawa in Kaduna, the situation was calm; while people still remained indoors, business activities were in skeletal services with major shops by the main roads closed.
Our correspondents observed that people kept sending messages to their friends and relatives to remain indoors, saying silent killings were still going on.
Manager, Kaduna International Airport, Mrs. Amina Salami, told Daily Trust that only Azman Air operated its flight into Kaduna yesterday.
According to her, Airpeace and Arik Air cancelled their flights apparently because of the crisis and curfew.
“Of course flights are affected because if the flights land, how will the passengers get into the town with the curfew?” she wondered. Also speaking to our correspondent on the phone, Mr. Victor Adamu, the Operations Manager, Abuja-Kaduna train service said although the trains have operated normally, the turnouts of passengers have been very low.
“The crisis hasn’t affected our train services. We have not stopped operations because we have an understating with the military to escort all our passengers into town when they get to Kaduna” he said.
“I am also in constant touch with the DPO in Rigasa” he said adding, that additional police personnel have been deployed to the train stations and onboard the train.
He said the turn out from Kaduna was very poor because passengers were finding it difficult to access the train stations.