Gov. Ortom dumps APC

Residents raise alarm as police impose ‘curfew’ in Zaria

The DPO of Tudun Wada, Zaria is said to be presently imposing restriction of business activities

- Residents said police arrests innocent traders from 10.30 and 11pm

- Tahir, a community leader in Tudun Jukun, said the arrests were an act of injustice

Residents of Tudun Wada and Tudun Jukun areas in Zaria, Kaduna state have raised the alarm over the imposition of restriction of business activities beginning from 10pm by the Divisional Police Office of Tudun Wada.

The resident said the police usually storm these areas in the early hours of the night and pick owners of kiosks and other traders.

Those arrested and presently in police custody in Tudun Jukun area include Salisu Mai Balangu and his boy Bello, Malam Umar Mai MTN, Salisu Mai Shago alias No Case and his boy Jamilu and Awwal Mai Tsire.

According to the residents, they are usually picked up by the police at about 10.30 and 11pm.

One of the traders that escaped arrest said: “I was about to close my shop at about 11pm when the police accosted me. I asked why they were arresting me, but they did not proffer any reason. I then begged them, telling them that I have closed my shop already. That was how I escaped.”

Malam Yunus Tahir, a community leader in Tudun Jukun who is deputy chairman of the Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’a Wa’iqamatis Sunna (JIBWIS), Zaria local government said the incessant arrest of traders was an act of injustice.

“What usually surprises us is the fact that the police would come and arrest our people early in the night, but later in the night thieves would follow and terrorise our people. Instead of arresting innocent traders early in the night, why don’t they wait till late in the night to come and stop thieves and other criminals from having a free hand?” he said.

Tahir called on the relevant authorities to save them from the DPO.

While the Kaduna state police command’s public relations officer is not replying his messages, the spokesperson of the Kaduna state governor, Samuel Aruwan, said the state security council did not impose curfew or restriction of movement in any part of Zaria.

Recall that some members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), during a protest over the detention of its leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, clashed with men of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), on Wednesday, January 25.