Following Tuesday’s bomb blast at Sabon Gari Local Government Secretariat in Kaduna state that killed 25 people and left 32 others injured, Kaduna State Government has banned all forms of street begging and hawking with immediate effect.
A suspected female suicide bomber sneaked into the secretariat and detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) strapped to her body on Tuesday morning while civil servants were undergoing staff verification.
Eyewitness accounts said the female suicide bomber had joined the queue of workers, pretending to be part of those undergoing the verification exercise before detonating the explosive device that sent the entire secretariat into a pandemonium.
In a statement issued by spokesman for the Kaduna State Governor, shortly after the blast, said the ban is to enhance security in the state.
The statement warned all beggars and hawkers to stay off the streets until further notice, warning that any of them found on the streets would be arrested, until these measures are relaxed.
In addition, the government reiterates that the ban on commercial motorcycles popularly known as ‘Achaba’ remains in force.
The government also urged the citizens to report all suspicious persons and movements to the security agencies for prompt action.
The 32 injured persons are being treated at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, while the remains of the 25 dead bodies have been deposited at the hospital’s mortuary.
Governor El-Rufai also said that the state government is working with Federal Security Agencies that are taking proactive measures to frustrate such terrorists.
