From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
The Kaduna state government has debunked the reported rumours of a 24-hour curfew imposed in the state, as a result of today’s protest.
Clarifying in an interview with newsmen, the Chief of Staff, Government House Kaduna, Alh Sani Liman Kila said that there was no curfew imposed as it has been reported.
“His Excellency Senator Uba Sani, just met with the security chiefs to review the protest. Being an activist, he handled the situation differently.
Also, he said he and the commissioner for internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan went around to assert the level of the protest everything was normal.
Earlier in the day, “Government and private offices, banks, markets, and shops were locked up in Kaduna as thousands of youths barricaded major routes in the state capital.
However, despite the precautions, what looked like a peaceful protest suddenly turned violent as hoodlums hijacked the protests attacking the Government and private properties.
An investigation by this reporter revealed that the protesters marched in large numbers as part of the “EndBad Governance” nationwide protest moved toward Sir Kashim Ibrahim to register their grievance.
However, when Government officials were busy trying to get the leadership of the protest, protesters started to set up fire barricades by burning toys at different locations.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of Kaduna State police Command ASP Mansir Hassan who spoke to the media in front of the Sir Kasim Ibrahim House said the Command has been cautious to avoid the ugly incidents created by the protest by asking for details of the leaderships of the protesters but was not provided.
The protesters moved toward the main gate of the Sir Kasim Ibrahim House the seat of government but were dispersed by the combined security forces.
The protesters then turned protests protests to looting galore as government offices and Private properties were attacked.
The office of Kaduna State Traffic Enforcement Authority (KASTLEA) and
Kaduna Investment and Promotions Agency (KADIPA) along Sokoto Road, where they looted the office and later set ablased part of the (KASTLEA) building.
A private residence close the the building was also ranked by the protesters. Mrs. Chinaso Obi said everything in her house was taken away by the protesters.
Chief of Staff, Government House Kaduna, Alh Sani Liman Kila, and the overseeing Commissioner of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Security Mr. Samuel Aruwan went round to ascertain the situation.
Meanwhile, the police Image maker, Mansir Hassan has said they have arrested 25 people having been found guilty of different offences.
He said the situation is calm and protesters have resigned from their homes, saying, however, we will continue to monitor them.
The protesters comprising of married women, young girls, and boys, adults, and children came out from areas like Kabala contained, Rigasa, Tundun Wada, Kabala Doki, Unguwar Sarki, etc holding leaves and placards some of which read “Tinubu we are hunger” “End the fuel subsidy now”, “We need Jobs” among others.
The protesters were also shouting “Bamu so ” (we don’t like Tinubu), Mu ba bayi bane ( we are not slaves). Speaking in an interview, one of the protesters, Babangida Garba remarked that in addition to the hunger and high cost of living being experienced in the country, “there’s joblessness in the country.
He said the issue of joblessness is one of the things that made us protest. We have finished school but no job. And if you apply they will tell you they want a person with ten years of experience. Why should they attach experience to someone who has just finished school
Also, speaking to ng one of the protesters, a 70-year-old woman, Hajiya Maiyaki said she was in full support of the protest because people can no longer eat, saying, “We rice, beans, garri, yam are beyond our reach. We have children and grandchildren, we have orphans, and we can not feed them.
Another aggrieved student, Aisha Abdullahi said,” Since the coming of Tinubu’s government life has become expensive, saying, “My parents find it difficult to feed us. They find it difficult to clothe me. Pointing at her shoes, she said my father bought me these shoes in 2022.
Meanwhile, many residents decided to remain indoors for fear of the unknown just as economic activities were paralyzed.
Also closed were the state secretariat as well as banks, schools, markets, and shops. Bus and tricycle services were not operating.
A shop owner, Mr Ignatius Chukwu disclosed that the fear of looting has been the reason why they closed their shops.
“I’ve valuables worth over N50m and if we open the shop they loot it. Who will give you the money to restock? So, many of us have valuables worth hundreds of millions.
