The Kaduna State government has denied the imposition of a 24-hour-curfew in the state, through the Chief of Staff to the governor, Mallam Sani Kila.
NewsNGR reports the protests which began peacefully around the popular NEPA roundabout in the metropolis, turned violent as the protesters attempted to force themselves into the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, the seat of power in the state.
The protesters vandalised government property including the office of the Kaduna State Traffic Law Enforcement Agency or KASTLEA, along the Sokoto Road in the heart of the state.
Part of the office was burnt while furniture and some property in the office were carted away by the protesters.
The Kaduna Investment Promotion Agency was also vandalised.
The Chief of Staff to the governor, Sani Kila and the Commissioner Overseeing the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, who visited the scene, noted with concern over the way and manner the entire protest turned out.
He also said the governor did not impose a 24-hour-curfew as reported in some media (not NewsNGR), saying “we have gone round the state and all is calm. There is no curfew as reported by some media.”
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mansir Hassan, ASP, said those (25) arrested attempted to hijack a peaceful protest and attack the Government House.
According to the spokesman, the protesters had been instructed to submit their details to ensure a peaceful demonstration.
“However, some elements within the group defied this directive and turned violent, attempting to breach the Government House and damaging a police armoured vehicle,” he said.
The PPRO further warned that the command would not tolerate any form of destructive or violent protest, and those arrested would face the full force of the law.
He reaffirmed its commitment to protecting citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly while ensuring public safety and security.
He said, “We have. Even drawing attention away from the public that some bad elements are trying to hijack the protest.
“The Inspector-General of Police has clearly asked those interested in protest to submit their details, so that we can know and have details about their movements. We will also know their leaders too.
“At the end of the day, we see them trying to attack us at the government house. You can see how they destroyed our amour car. We have arrested some of them now. 25 of them are in our next. We definitely can’t allow any destruction or any violent protest.”