The Katsina government has imposed a 24-hour curfew in Dutsinma LGA.

The secretary to the state government, Abdullahi Garba-Faskari, announced the decision in a statement on Thursday.

Acting Governor Faruq Jobe has also banned gatherings and protests across the state.

“The acting governor had earlier received a group of civil society organisations who were on a peaceful demonstration at the Government House and pledged to deliver their messages to the appropriate authority.

“However, later, the government received reports that some miscreants had hijacked the protest and unleashed their ulterior motives of shop breaking, looting and vandalisation of public and private properties.

“Therefore, the government found it necessary to impose these measures to safeguard people’s lives and properties in the state,” the statement said.

Similarly, the police command in Katsina said it had begun enforcement of the curfew.

The spokesman for the command, ASP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, in a statement, said, “We wish to dismiss the misinformation that police personnel shot live ammo at protesters, resulting in loss of lives. 

“We assure the members of the public that our officers exercised the maximum level of restraint and professionalism in handling the violent protesters. There is no record of any fatalities resulting from police actions as of the time of these reports.”

(NAN)