The Kaduna State Government Sunday imposed a 24-hour curfew in the state capital, Kaduna and its environments following violence at Sabon Tasha and others places where many people are believed to have been killed.
According to reports reaching Apex News some traders were killed at the weekly Sabon Tasha market which held on Sunday and tension following the violence spread to other parts of Kaduna with people panicking.
In a statement announcing the curfew, the Senior Special Assistant to the Kaduna State Governor on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan, the action affects Kaduna North, Kaduna South and Kudan local government areas making the greater Kaduna city.
Apex News gathered that the curfew caught many residents unawares and soldiers were promptly seen patrolling the city especially around the Abubakar Gumi Central Market on the fringes of Ahmadu Bello Way.
Soldiers were also patrolling Television and Gonin Gora among other potential volatile areas.
A resident of Sabon Tasha told Apex News Sunday night that many religious buildings were burnt by youths at Sabon Tasha and Television area but the immediate arrival of soldiers prevented further destruction.
Violence actually began last week at Kasuwan Magani few kilometres along Kaduna – Kachia highway where the police said 55 people were killed in clashes and reprisal attacks.
On Thursday, a traditional ruler, the Agom Adara, Dr Maiwada Galadima and his wife were abducted in a convoy while travelling from Kaduna to his domain along the highway. This has generated more tension. His wife was later freed.
However, two persons were killed in his convoy and his driver found unconscious in the bush.
It was gathered that the traditional ruler was returning from Kaduna where he had gone for a meeting to find solution to the Kasuwan Magani crisis which is within his domain.
In order not to leave anything to chance, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris has deploy the Assistant Inspector General of Police, (AIG) in-charge of Zone 7 to Kaduna to help coordinate police presence and quell the situation.
Kaduna has since 2001 been divided along religious lines with the city split into Christian and Muslim settlements. Kaduna North is now inhabited by Muslims while Kaduna South is dominated by Christians.
The city has witnessed many crisis since that of 2001 with many travelers avoiding the Gonin Gora area where motorists are stopped and many innocent persons killed.
