Protest: Youths Block Major Roads In Maiduguri As Borno Govt Imposes 24hrs Curfew

Despite appeals by government officials, traditional, religious, and community leaders, youths in their hundreds blocked Jos Road, Kwaljwa roundabout and other major roads of Maiduguri, the Borno state capital in protest of bad governance, insecurity and hunger

The youths, including the under-aged, blocked the road chanting (Ba Muyi) we no go agree, creating hold and motorists find it difficult to pass.

In their efforts to discuss the crowd, heavily armed mobile police and other security agencies deployed to the scene started shooting in the air, forcing the youths to respond by throwing stones at the security and burnt down police vehicles at Arabic Teachers College Area.

One person was reportedly knocked down, while many others sustained injury as violence erupted.

In a swift reaction, the team of heavily armed mobile police were quickly deployed to the scene shooting tear gas to dispass the crowd and maintain normalcy, this situation made the youths start throwing stones at the police.

To ensure the situation did not get out of hand and that the Boko Haram insurgents did not take advantage of the protest to wreck havoc, the Borno state government has imposed 24 24-hour curfew on the state.

The Borno state police command in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Nahum Daso said “In line with our constitutional mandate towards the restoration of law and order his Excellency the Executive Governor of Borno State Prof. Babagana Umar Zulum in consultation with heads of security in the state, finds it’s expedient to declare 24hrs curfew in the state with immediate effect.”

“In view of the constitutional mandate of the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security and law enforcement agencies toward the preservation of law and order in the state.

“You are all aware of the incident that took place at Kawori which was the detonation of an improvised explosive devices ordinance device which led to the death of (16) persons while several others were critically injured and on admission across various Government hospitals in the state”, the Police said.

The police therefore called on the good people of Borno State to remain calm and law-abiding and further developments will be communicated to the residents accordingly. The youths defied the curfew and continued with the protest.