*Says looting politically motivated
Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State has relaxed the curfew in 17 of the 21 local government areas of the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Fintiri imposed the curfew on the affected areas in the wake of Sunday’s looting of government’s warehouses by unidentified hoodlums.
The measure is contained in a statement issued by the governor’s chief press secretary, Mr Humwashi Wonosikou, in Yola and made available to newsmen on Tuesday.
The statement however disclosed that the curfew would continue in Yola-North, Yola-South, Girei and Numan from 6 pm to 6 am daily, until further notice.
“Security operatives will, therefore, remain in the affected councils to enforce the new directive with a view to further maintain law and order,” the governor added.
According to him, the new directive follows the return of peace and advice of the state security council.
“The curfew was never declared to inflict hardship on our people in the first instance but to protect them and return normalcy to the affected areas,” he said.
Fintiri advised the people to always channel their grievances to the appropriate authorities and resist the temptation of taking the law into their own hands.
Fintiri noted that investigation showed the looting was politically motivated and not out of hunger as was earlier believed. According to him, some of the contestants that lost out orchestrated the looting to distract his government from rendering the dividends of governance to the people.
He, however, warned that culprits would be decisively dealt with after visiting the looted warehouses to assess the level of damage.
Meanwhile, over hundred people have been arrested in connection with the looting.
