The Kaduna State Government has selectively relaxed the 24-hour curfew it imposed on Kaduna metropolis and other parts of the state with immediate effect.

The government took the decision after a meeting of the State Security Council which received reports and deliberated on the security situation, following the violence that occurred in Kasuwan Magani on Thursday last week.

At the end of the meeting which held on Tuesday in Kaduna, the Council recommended that the curfew in Kasuwan Magani and Kujama be relaxed to enable people to engage in their lawful daily activities.

This means that the curfew in Kasuwan Magani and Kujama will be enforced from dusk to dawn – from 5:00 pm to 6:00 am, until further notice.
The Council, however, sustained the 24-hour curfew in Kabala West, Kabala Doki, Sabon Tasha, Narayi, and Maraban Rido areas where attacks on places of worship were either attempted overnight or contemplated.

It warned the residents in affected areas that the government would not hesitate to prosecute anybody who violates the order.

Security agencies were also directed to engage hoodlums or unauthorised groups who may want to cause any further crisis in the state with appropriate force.

Part of a statement issued after the meeting read: “For the rest of Kaduna metropolis, the Security Council has noted an improvement in the security situation and, therefore, decided that a window be provided for residents to be able to restock on essentials.

“Therefore, the curfew in the rest of Kaduna metropolis is relaxed from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm today to enable all markets, shops and businesses to open and operate.

“Security agents will patrol and protect the markets to ensure safety and deal with any attempts by hoodlums to engage in criminal conduct. The 24-hour curfew in Kaduna metropolis will be re-imposed from 5:00 pm today,
and until further notice.

“The Security Council regrets the inconvenience to residents. But the obligation to secure lives and property necessitates an uncompromising approach.

“Government will continue to monitor the situation and make further announcements based on the guidance of the security agencies.”