Plateau State Government yesterday announced a ban on all forms of public processions across the state “to further protect lives and properties”.
The ban is coming in the wake of last week’s protest following the killing of over 200 persons in the state. The protest, which began peacefully, had turned violent when protesters vandalised vehicles parked at the Little Rayfield Government House premises and glass doors of the administrative building.
A statement issued by the state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Yakubu Dati yesterday said the ban was a preventive measure to stop miscreants and “unpatriotic elements from hijacking any protest to further inflict pain and hardship on innocent citizens.”
“Government therefore solicits the cooperation and support of citizens for a peaceful Plateau State,” it stated.
The statement also advised members of the public to adhere strictly to the ban and stated that it will enable government take stock of the security situation in the state.
Dati said while government appreciates the democratic rights of citizens to protest, it also has a duty to ensure nothing negatively affects them.
