Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Hassan DankwamboThe Gombe State Government has imposed curfew on Gombe, the state capital, to stave off trouble caused by some Christian youth from escalating into uncontrollable crisis.
Information reaching us showed that the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the State had organized a mass burial for the eight children killed by a security agent last Sunday. According to information, the mourners closed all the roads leading to the Gombe Specialists Hospital where the remains of the victims were kept and the CAN centre, venue of the church service for the deceased.
Eye witness accounts said that the closure of the roads led to heavy traffic jam in the areas which made residents to open the roads to traffic, but that the action was perceived by the Christian youths as threat to the burial ceremony.
The members of the Boys Brigade, not satisfied by the action, were said to have gone ahead to block the roads leading to the state from Kano and Yobe States and were brandishing weapons and threatening to deal with anybody who attempted to open the roads.
Security agencies were said to have been mobilized to quell the clash between Christian youth and some residents who tried to remove the barricade, thereby preventing breakdown of law and order.
In order to prevent such clash escalating into big crisis and constituting danger to the public peace, the State government issued a statement imposing curfew, beginning from today, Saturday, April 27.
According to the statement by the Acting Secretary to the State Government, James Pisagih, Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo has approved the imposition of the curfew in Gombe metro with immediate effect to douse tension.
“The curfew will start from 3pm Saturday to 6am on Sunday (tomorrow). However, the situation will be review after the restoration of normalcy,” the statement said.
The statement said that only security agencies and other workers on essential services are allowed any form of movement during the duration of the curfew.
The Police Command Public Relations Officer, Obed Mary Malum said that the need for the curfew was came after a security meeting, as the means to arresting the situation and preventin breakdown of law and order.
