In an apparent swift move to prevent a reenactment of the Saturday’s violence in Sokoto State, the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has banned all forms of religious protests in the state.
The state’s Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs in the, Samuel Aruwan, announced in a statement on Saturday afternoon.
The state government’s action was sequel to Saturday’s outbreak of religious riot in Sokoto metropolis, the capital of neighbouring Sokoto State, in the same North-West geo-political zone.
On Saturday, a mob of placard-carrying Muslim youths wielding various dangerous weapons stormed the streets of Sokoto metropolis, demanding the release of the two suspects arrested in connection with Thursday’s gruesome murder of Deborah Yakubu, a 200-level Home Economics student of Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto.
Deborah was lynched on the school premises and her body set ablaze for allegedly blaspheming Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
The Saturday morning protesters in Sokoto had clashed with security operatives, who fired shots to disperse the rampaging mob.
Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal had swiftly imposed a 24-hour curfew on the people of the state to stop the violence and calm frayed nerves.
Sequel to Gov Tambuwal’s action, the Kaduna State Governor El-Rufai promptly placed a ban on religious protests in any part of the state, saying some “unpatriotic elements” planned to organise a “series of for-and-against protests” over the incident in Sokoto.
According to the statement entitled, ‘KDSG Security Update: Saturday 14th May 2022’, “The Kaduna State Government, in consultation with security agencies under the umbrella of the Kaduna State Security Council, has placed a ban on protests related to religious activity throughout the State with immediate effect.
This prohibition becomes imperative in view of moves by some unpatriotic elements to organize series of for-and-against protests related to a security development in one of the Northern Nigerian States.
“Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai who has been briefed on the development, has charged security agencies to ensure strict enforcement of this ban against any form of religious protest in the State.
“The Governor also charged religious leaders, community leaders and traditional rulers throughout the State to complement the efforts of government and security agencies towards the maintenance of peace and stability.
“Security agencies have thus resolved that any attempt by individuals or groups to disrupt the peace and stability of the State, by way of religious protests, will not be condoned. Such protests will be promptly halted, and conveners prosecuted.
“Citizens are implored to remain calm as they go about their lawful pursuits, and to immediately report any such activity or security concern to the Kaduna State Security Operations Room.”