The Borno Government and heads of security agencies have announced a temporary relaxation of the curfew imposed in the state to allow Muslims to observe the Friday (Jumaat) congregation prayers.
Naija News reports that the Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Daso Nahun, disclosed this in a statement released in Maiduguri on Friday.
He said that the curfew would be relaxed from 12 pm to 3 pm to enable Muslims to attend the Jumaat prayers at mosques closer to their communities.
He stated that the curfew would continue to be enforced from 3 pm today, Friday, to 6 am on Saturday.
He advised the residents to go about their lawful business and avoid any form of violence.
Nahun assured the public of adequate protection of lives and property, working towards sustainable peace and safety in the state.
“This decision comes after a series of incidents in the state, including protests, IED explosions, and culpable homicide.
“The government and security agencies are working to maintain law and order and ensure public safety,” he said.
Naija News reports that the Borno State Police Command had earlier imposed a 24-hour curfew amid the nationwide hunger protest.
The declaration was made after many protesters went berserk at the Bulunkutu area, in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, on Thursday as the police officers fired teargas to disperse them.
According to Daily Trust, the angry protesters, in their hundreds, mounted roadblocks, preventing vehicular movement and breaking windscreens of private and commercial vehicles that insisted on passing.
The young men and women protesting were seen chanting anti-government songs, carrying placards with the inscriptions: “Ba ma yi”, “Tinubu must go”, “End the bad governance” and “There is hunger”.
One of the protesters, identified as Muhammad, who spoke with the publication above, said the teargas would not deter them, or even gunshots, while exercising their constitutional right to protest.
He said, “We want the world to know the kind of injustice meted against us by the police. They shoot teargas at us while conducting our peaceful protest and that would not deter us.”
Reacting to the development, the State Police Command Spokesperson, Nahum Kenneth Daso, in a statement, said the curfew was based on security concerns and the bomb explosion which happened on Wednesday.
Daso said the curfew was declared in the interest of peace and urged residents of the state to remain calm and law-abiding.
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