Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has approved a dusk-to-dawn curfew across the state as part of efforts to ensure peace and normalcy.
The curfew, which took effect from10pm, Tuesday, October 20, would have both human and vehicular movements restricted across the state.
Governor Fayemi, in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government Mr Biodun Oyebanji, said the decision was taken after careful consideration of the atrocities perpetrated by protesters suspected to be hoodlums.
The statement further stated that the security agencies had been ostensibly placed on alert to enforce compliance with the curfew.
It reads, “the Government of Ekiti State has observed with growing concern how the END SARS protest, which started as a peaceful protest against police brutality by youths in Ekiti State, has been hijacked by some hoodlums.
“The hoodlums have capitalized on the ENDSARS 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 do not agree 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. Kayode Fayemi, hereby imposes a 24-hour curfew on all parts of the State starting from 10.00 pm tonight, Tuesday, October 20, 2020,” it said.
It added that only essential workers and service providers with valid means of identifications are allowed to move around during the period of the curfew.
He warned that any person that defy the order would be promptly arrested and prosecuted according to the laws of Ekiti State.