Business activities throughout Kaduna state were at stand still throughout yesterday (Monday) following the state-wide curfew imposed by the government.
Some 66 persons were also confirmed dead and 140 others hospitalised.
Banks, schools, markets, government and private offices remained shut, as movement of residents was barred by government in a 24 -hour curfew imposed Sunday afternoon, following reprisal attacks by irate youths over the bombing of churches in the state.
Also, students who were to sit for the National Examination Council (NECO) mathematics examination yesterday morning, could not do so, as gates of all schools within and outside Kaduna metropolis remained shut.
BusinessDay gathered that the curfew also affected economic activities in all the 23 local government councils of the state and especially in semi-urban cities like Zaria, Kafanchan, Koi, Saminaka and Birni-gwari.
Although the city centre in Kaduna remain calm, security operatives kept vigil at areas considered as flashpoints. The major round-about and public buildings as well as banks were also under the watchful eyes of heavily armed soldiers and mobile policemen.
Meanwhile, Massive bombings and gunshots were heard in Damaturu, Yobe State, capital yesterday.
The attacks began around 5:00pm, according to witnesses who say that no less the 25 gunshots have been heard. The Joint Military Task Force (JTF) and Boko Haram militants are engaged in ongoing gun battles in the Sabon Pegi area, near the residence of Governor Ibrahim Geidam.
It was learnt that passenger vehicles, lorries and trailers were stopped by security operatives from moving into the state and outside the state in strict compliance with the curfew which was imposed on Sunday as a step to forestall a descent to anarchy within Kaduna metropolis and its environs.
Irate youths had taken into the streets in Goni-gora, Barnawa, Angawan-Pama, Narayi, Tricania, and Angwan Muazu in spontaneous demonstration against bombings of two churches in Zaria and another church in Tricania area of Kaduna metropolis on Sunday by the Boko Haram Islamic sect.
The demonstration which later turned violent, claiming lives and properties, was to registered their disenchantment with the authorities and the Boko Haram sect on the spate of bombings of worshipers in Churches every Sunday. The youths were saying enough is now enough and that if the government was incapable of protecting them, they would begin to take measures to protect themselves.
However in order to maintain the peace, the state government decided to imposed a 24 hour curfew on the state, giving security agencies the power to deal decisively with anyone who violate the curfew order.
The state government had however relaxed curfew from 2pm on Monday afternoon, till 6pm, while the curfew would run from 6am on Tuesday to 6pm.
The government maintained that anyone no matter how highly placed who indulges in acts capable of breaching the peace of the state would be decisively dealt with.
Red Cross officials also told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Kaduna that 140 victims of the attacks were taken to various hospitals for treatment.
NAN recalls that two churches were bombed in Zaria and one in Kaduna on Sunday.
They are Christ the King Catholic Church (CKC) located at Yoruba Road, Sabon Gari, Zaria, ECWA Church situated at Wusasa, Zaria and Shalom Church of God at Tirkania area of Kaduna metropolis.
The Chief Medical Director of Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital, Kaduna, Huseini Yahya, said that the hospital received 10 bodies, while two died in the hospital.
Similarly, Khalid Lawal, Chief Medical Director of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika, near Zaria, said that 10 bodies were brought to the facility, while two victims died on arrival.
The Chief Medical Director of St. Luke’s Hospital, Wusasa, Zaria, Taylor Adeyemi, said three of the 40 victims of ECWA church blast were brought to the hospital died.
Adeyemi said that most of the victims brought to the hospital were children.
The Public Relations Officer of St. Gerard’s Catholic Hospital, Kakuri, Kaduna, John Sunday, told NAN that the hospital received 36 bodies and three other victims died on arrival.
The Vatican issued a statement on Sunday condemning the “systematic attacks against Christian places of worship” which it said proved the existence of an “absurd plan of hate” in Nigeria.
Comments
I wash my hands of those who imagine chattering to be knowledge, silence to be ignorance, and affection to be art.
The only real security that a man can have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience, and ability.
If you hate a person, you hate something in something in him that is a part of yourself. What isn't part of ourselves doesn't disturb us.
If you want to know your past - look into your present conditions. If you want to know your future - look into your present actions.
may God grant peace to the heart of all those who lost their love ones, who doesnt have a hand in the blast