Zamfara imposes curfew, suspends market activities in Jangebe

Zamfara State government has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the state following an incident that occurred at Jangebe town yesterday when the 279 abducted schoolgirls of Government Secondary School were reunited with their parents.

One person was reportedly shot by security operatives who allegedly opened fire after an angry mob kicked against the insistence on a formal handover before parents could leave with the released girls.

To prevent further breach of peace, the state through a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Sulaiman Tunau Anka, announced a curfew which began on Wednesday.

The statement said, “Sequel to an unfortunate civil disobedience which took place at Jangebe town after the return of the released abducted school children, the Zamfara State government has approved the imposition of a dusk-to-dawn curfew at Jangebe town starting from Wednesday, 3/3/2021. This is to prevent any further breach of peace.

“Similarly, there is strong discovered evidence of market activities in the town that aid and abet bandits activities in the town and neighbouring communities. Consequently, all market activities in the town are hereby suspended until further notice.

“The state government is poised to ensure safety of lives and properties of its citizens at all cost.

“With this announcement, the Zamfara State Police Command is hereby enjoined to ensure total enforcement.”

Meanwhile, the Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, has said those who abducted the schoolgirls are of Hausa and Fulani ethnicity.

He said this during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Wednesday.

The Governor said, “They say most of them are Hausa and some of them are Fulani. In fact, they even asked the school children to pray for them. So, they say they are of different entities contrary to the thought that they are all Fulani.

“Some reporters have interviewed some of the girls who have identified some of these guys (kidnappers). In fact, one of the girls told us that she knows one of them who is Hausa and used to come to Jangebe market. She promised that any time he comes to Jangebe market she will be able to identify him and point him out to the security.”