Police impose curfew as protest rocks Sokoto community over monarch’s murder

The Sokoto State Police Command has confirmed the imposition of a curfew at Sabon Birni town in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State as youths went on a rampage following the killing of the District Head of Gatawa, Isa Muhammad Bawa.

The spokesman for the command, ASP Ahmed Rufa’i, explained that there would be no movement in the area between 6 am and 6 pm until further notice.

He further explained that measure was taken to restore law and order in the area, saying that youths in their hundreds flooded some major roads in the area and set bonfires.

The youths were said to have torched the local government secretariat of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and a courtroom. They also broke into the local government store and destroyed fertiliser.

Turakin Gobir, who is the son of the murdered district head, stated that there was a reinforcement of security operatives in the area.

He said: “We have been hearing gunshots since morning. But the protest is still ongoing as at 8 pm, which is an indication that the curfew is not yet effective.”

The protesters demanded an investigation into the matter, saying those responsible for the killing should not go unpunished. They called on the federal government to launch an investigation into the brutal murder of the monarch, as according to him, they learnt that some politicians were accused of having a hand in the whole issue.

In a short video clip, the son of the slain district head, Kabiru Isa, who was recently released by his abductors, accused a member of the Sokoto State House of Assembly of being responsible for the abduction.

On Thursday, thousands of mourners held a special funeral prayer for Isa Muhammad Bawa, the murdered district head of Gatawa in Sokoto State.

The prayer was led by the Chief Imam of Sabon Birni, Imam Dahiru.