Ekiti State is the latest state to impose a 24-hour curfew in response to the escalating violence that has characterised the #EndSARS protests across the country.
The curfew will start by 10 pm today, October 20, 2020, according to the statement made available on Tuesday by the Secretary to the State Government, Biodun Oyebanji.
According to the statement, “The Government of Ekiti State has observed with growing concern how the #EndSARS protest, which started as a peaceful protest against police brutality by youths in Ekiti State, has been hijacked by some hoodlums.
“The hoodlums have capitalised on the EndNDSARS protest to rape, assault, rob and extort innocent citizens across the State. These are in addition to the wanton destruction of properties, particularly private properties.
“Government is concerned that if this state of affairs is allowed to continue unabated, it will lead to a breakdown of law and order thereby threatening the wellbeing of the people of Ekiti State.
“In the past 48 hours there have been incidents of gang-rape, robberies, physical assaults on innocent people, looting and burning of a police station. These acts of brigandage are not in consonance with the legitimate aspirations of the protesters. It cannot be logical to seek to remedy impunity with impunity.
“Government, therefore, cannot afford to watch a deliberate enthronement of anarchy by some bad elements who have hijacked the protest for some clandestine reasons. Consequently, the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Fayemi, hereby imposes a 24-hour curfew on all parts of the State starting from 10 pm tonight, Tuesday, October, 20, 2020.
“Only essential workers and service providers with valid means of identifications are allowed to move around during the period of the curfew. Any person found on the street that does not belong to this category would be promptly arrested and prosecuted according to the laws of Ekiti State,” the Governor explained.
