BEVERLY HILLS, CA, December 03, (THEWILL) – Residents of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, heaved a sigh of relief on Tuesday as military authorities and the State Government relaxed the 24-hour curfew regime imposed on the town following the six-hour deadly attack by Boko Haram gunmen in the early hours of Monday.
The GSM services that were locked down over six months ago following the emergency rule declaration by President Goodluck Jonathan were also restored.
A statement signed by the Secretary to the Borno State Government, Ambassador Baba Ahmad Jidda, Tuesday evening, said the decision was taken by the government in conjunction with security agencies.
“The Borno State Government in consultation with security agencies has approved the review of the 24-hour curfew to commence from 7pm to 6am each day until further notice.
“All citizens are therefore enjoined to comply with the provisions of the curfew and cooperate with the provisions of the curfew and cooperate with security personnel on duty.
“Vehicles on essential services such as ambulances, fire services and media personnel especially television and radio on duty are exempted.
“Meanwhile, Borno State Governor, Hon. Kashim Shettima, regrets all inconveniences caused to Borno citizens as a result of the curfew,” the statement said.
But many residents who thought the curfew had been totally lifted got a raw deal from the stern-looking military men deployed to the streets.
A photojournalist, Tunji Omirin, who works with Daily Trust, narrated his ordeal in the hands of the soldiers. “After 1pm, I took a cab to the centre of the town [Post Office area] where I saw the soldiers shooting sporadically into the air to scare off people. The people were seen running for dear lives. I was on my way to the Government House to send a report but was turned back by two soldiers who threatened to shoot me even after I had identified myself as a journalist on essential services.” he said.
He explained that he was harrased along with others, some of whom, according to him, were beaten and asked to frog jump.
According to Omirin, many residents had gathered around the Post Office area to make phone calls due to strong network from the just restored GSM services around the area before the military came to disperse them.
“The people were equally driven from major roads by gun totting soldiers,” the photojournalist, said. He stated that he had to trek for about four kilometres and was barely 200 metres to the Government House but had to turn back when one of the soldiers said: “Journalist my foot, go back straight home or be hunted down.”
Omirin who was apparently afraid, said he had to immediately make a u-turn but decided to take another longer route to the Government House.
Another journalist with the same media house, Ibraham Yahaya, narrated his ordeal on Monday. He said he was driving to town to monitor the situation before he was accosted by some soldiers.
“I showed them my ID card but they yelled at me insisting I should kneel down and join others in frog-jumping. They released me with some others at about 7:30pm after they had held me since 11:45am, ” he said..
