Hunger Protest: Police arrest 212 suspected hoodlums in Jigawa

***Recover Fertilizer other items

By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse

The Jigawa state police command has arrested 212 hoodlums suspected to have looted and vandalized public properties in various parts of the state during EndBadGovernance protest.

This was disclosed by the state commissioner of police, Mr Ahmed Tijjani Abdullahi while addressing news men over the security situation in the state
He said so far 74 of them have been charged to court.
The police boss provided an update on the situation and the measures being taken to restore law and order in the State.

Abdullahi stated that the Nigeria police in conjunction with sister security agencies in the state recovered 50 Motorcycles, 50 Tricycle, 12 Bicycles and nine chairs.

According to him “other items recovered included 303 bags of fertilizer, 54 Cartons of mosquito nets, two bags of Rice and office furnitures”.

“You may recall that in anticipation of the planned protest, series of proactive measures were taken to prevent violence and protect lives and properties.These measures included intelligence gathering and surveillance, deployment of additional security personnel to potential hotspots and engagement with critical stakeholders such as pressure groups, hoteliers, council of Ulamas, youth group, CLOs, members of ACMORAN, NURTW e.t.c”.

He said they deployed other processes like community engagement and outreach programmes, monitoring of social media platforms, regular operation show of force, monitoring the activities of community leaders and influencers and expanded to all encompassing town hall meeting organized by the state government.

“Despite these efforts, on day one of the protest, some unscrupulous and unpatriotic elements who were bent on destabilizing the polity, decided to use and engaged teenagers leading to violence and destruction of public properties especially at palliative stores Yalwawa, Shuwarin and Government House in Dutse metropolis”.

He noted that, “The teenagers have showed unruly behavior, refusing to listen to our appeals. They have ignored warning and pleas to desist from violence, instead choose to engage in destructive behavior”.

“Their actions have resulted in widespread destruction of government properties and disruption of economic activities”, he emphasised.

Abdullahi maintained that “When all appeals failed. The security agencies were left with no option than to use minimum force to disperse the violent protesters. However, the violent protest spread to some Local Government areas such as Hadejia, B/Kudu, Gumel, Kazaure and Babura LGAs”.

“To address the situation, additional personnel and equipment had to be deployed to affected areas”.

He added that “based on the security advice and wider consultation with heads of security agencies, 24hrs curfew was declared across the state on 1st August, 2024 with a view to curtailing the spread of violence and also ensure protection of lives and properties of the law-abiding citizens in the state”.

According to him, the 24-hour curfew is a necessary measure to restore peace and stability and allow the security agencies to contain the situation and prevent further destruction.
Explaining further, he indicated that it is gratifying to observe that there is substantial compliance with the curfew by members of the public across the state.

He warned that anyone or group of persons found engaging in activities likely to disrupt the peace in the state will be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the law.