Borno, Yobe Restrict Vehicular Movement

THE Borno and Yobe States Police Commands yesterday afternoon announced the closure of the 132-Kilometre Maiduguri-Damaturu Road linking the two states in the North East sub-region of the country.

The shutdown followed a directive from the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase that police commissioners must ensure security within their command areas,
especially during the Eid-el-Fitri Sallah celebrations.

Borno and Yobe states are the epicentre of Boko Haram insurgency that has claimed many lives and property in the last six years.

The Borno State government yesterday also announced the review of the curfew in the state from 5pm to 6am daily, beginning from Thursday, July 16, 2015 to Sunday, July 19, 2015.
Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Usman Jidda Shuwa disclosed this in a statement in Maiduguri. The statement reads in part: “The restriction of vehicular movement is necessitated by the recent attacks by Boko Haram insurgents and intelligence report that there were plans by suicide bombers to attack some places of worship during the Eid-el-Fitri Sallah celebration; and government cannot fold its arms to allow any threat to security situation in this state.”

The statement quoted Shuwa as saying that measures have been taken to provide adequate security to protect people’s lives and property in Borno
State.

It called on the public to be more vigilant as they celebrate the Sallah by notifying security agents in the event of any suspicious movement.

In Yobe State, Commissioner of Police, Danladi Marcus announced that there will be no vehicular movement in and out of the state between 6pm yesterday and 2pm today. A statement by police spokesman, Toyin Gbadegesin, yesterday said: “There shall be no movement of all classes of vehicles into and out of Yobe State from all directions or gateways between the hours of 6pm on Thursday 16th of July to 2pm on Friday 17th of July when Sallah shall have been successful concluded.