Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, has imposed a 24-hour curfew following protests and destruction of property linked to the deaths of suspected illegal miners in NSCDC custody.
The curfew takes effect after Friday prayers, following reports of damage to government property, a bank, political party offices and private businesses.
However, the cause of the deaths has not been established, while the Federal Government has ordered investigations into the incident.
Governor Bago, who announced the curfew in a state broadcast, said the measure became necessary to prevent further breakdown of law and order in parts of the state capital and other affected areas.
He said security agencies have been directed to enforce the curfew strictly and to ensure that lives and property of residents are protected.
The Governor appealed to youths and residents of the state to remain calm and avoid taking laws into their hands while investigations into the deaths of the suspected illegal miners continue.
According to him, the government understands the pains and concerns raised by the incident, but destruction of public and private property will only worsen the situation.
Reports from Minna indicate that irate youths took to the streets earlier in the day to protest the death of scores of persons arrested for illegal mining who died in NSCDC custody.
The protesters were said to have set ablaze and vandalized several properties, including a commercial bank, offices of political parties, and shops belonging to private individuals.
Sources said security operatives were deployed to disperse the crowd and prevent the protest from spreading to other parts of the metropolis. Meanwhile, the Niger State Police Command had earlier announced that it has commenced investigation into the unfortunate incident.
The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Interior, has also ordered a separate investigation into the matter to ascertain the circumstances that led to the deaths.
The government assured that anyone found culpable in the incident would be brought to justice, while urging residents to cooperate with security agencies and support the investigation process.
