The police command in Plateau says it has arrested 14 suspected violators of the 24-hour curfew earlier imposed in Jos and environs.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Emmanuel Adesina, disclosed this shortly after the state security council meeting on Monday in Jos.

Plateau government, on Sunday, imposed a 24-hour curfew in Jos-Bukuru metropolis, following outbreak of violence and looting by some protesters in Jos North Local Government Area of the state.

Mr Adesina said that activities of miscreants, who hijacked the peaceful protest in the state, forced the state government to impose the 24-hour curfew.

”As you all know, the nationwide protest in the state was going on peacefully, until yesterday when some miscreants hijacked it and started looting public and private assets in the state.

”The state government immediately imposed a curfew to curtail activities of the miscreants; the curfew is still in place.

”Our resolution of this meeting is that we shall fully and vigorously enforce the curfew; anyone caught violating it will be prosecuted.

”So far, we have arrested 14 violators and we want to warn residents to stay indoors pending when the curfew is reviewed by government,” he warned.

On his part, Retired Brig.-Gen. Gakji Shipi, the special adviser on security to Plateau governor, called on residents of the state to eschew violence and give peace a chance.

”This government is doing everything possible to ensure Plateau is peaceful but the bad eggs among us will not relent in tarnishing our good image.

”We want to appeal to all citizens to eschew all forms of violence and explore peaceful means of coexistence; our citizens should desist from incitement.

”As a government, we will continue to support the security agencies in their bid toward a peaceful and virile Plateau,” Mr Shipi said.

The security meeting was presided over by Gov. Caleb Mutfwang.

(NAN)