The Zamfara State government has imposed a State-wide curfew following the violence that erupted after the announcement of the governorship election results.
The Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Dosara, announced the development through a statement issued on Tuesday, about 24 hours after the governorship poll results were declared.
“The government of Zamfara State has noticed with dismay, the wanton destruction and vandalisation of government and public property and assets where several innocent citizens are being inflicted with various degrees of injuries in the name of celebration of yesterday’s declaration of Governorship election results,” Dosara said.
“Reports available to the government indicate that lives were lost, houses and personal effects destroyed, and shops burgled. To guard against these acts, the government finds it imperative to impose a State-wide curfew from 8 pm to 6 am until peace is restored.”
“Security agencies are therefore directed to ensure compliance,” he added.
Governor Bello Matawalle of the All Progressives Congress (APC) lost the March 18 governorship election to his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenger, Dauda Lawal.
The Returning Officer for the election, Professor Kasimu Shehu, said Lawal scored 377,726 votes to defeat the incumbent governor, Bello Mohammed Matawalle who polled 311, 976 votes.