The Katsina State Government has imposed a 24-hour curfew in Dutsinma Local Government Area following reports of a breakdown of law and order during nationwide protests.

The Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abdullahi Garba-Faskari, announced the decision after an emergency State Security Council meeting.

The government has also banned unusual gatherings and all types of protests across the state.

This decision comes after the acting governor, Malam Faruq Jobe, received a group of Civil Society Organizations who were on a peaceful demonstration at the Government House.

According to Garba-Faskari, the government later received reports that some miscreants had hijacked the protest and unleashed their ulterior motives of shopbreaking, looting, and vandalization of public and private properties. Therefore, the government found it necessary to impose these measures to safeguard people's lives and properties in the state.

The police in the state have begun enforcement of the curfew across the state. The spokesman of the command, ASP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, dismissed the misinformation that police personnel shot live ammo at protesters, resulting in loss of lives.

He assured the members of the public that their officers exercised the maximum level of restraint and professionalism in handling the violent protesters.