The Kaduna State Security Council has relaxed the 24-hour curfew imposed on Jema’a and Zangon-Kataf local governments to 12 hours, from 6am till 6pm.
However, the 24-hour curfew remains in Kaura council.
Medical and health personnel carrying out essential services are, however, exempted from the curfew.
A statement by the council said improvements in the security situation in Jema’a and Zangon Kataf informed the decision to relax the curfew. It, however, said it was reviewing the situation in Kaura.
The statement, by Governor Nasir-El-Rufai’s media aide, Samuel Aruwan said: “The decision to relax the curfew in Jema’a and Zangon Kataf and its continuation in Kaura was unanimously taken after deliberations and review of the security situation in the three councils and the state.
“Security agencies have been empowered to arrest individuals and groups found violating the curfew.”
Religious leaders, especially in Kaduna State, have been warned against preaching hate and fueling the violence in Southern Kaduna.
National leader of Yoruba Welfare Political Group in the 19 northern states, Comrade Abdulhakeem Adegoke Alawuje, gave the warning while addressing reporters in Kaduna yesterday.
Alawuje said the crisis was political and economical and had nothing to do with religion. He, therefore, warned religious leaders to stop preaching hate among the people as the state had suffered in the past due to the negative impact of hate speeches by religious leaders.
He lamented the attitude of some spiritual fathers who, according to him, were agents of the devil, using their exalted positions to cause disaffection in the society, rather than being role models.
His words: “A criminal is a criminal, no matter the religion he or she professes. So, religious leaders should not blame the religion of a criminal for his/her act.
“Investigations have shown that most crises are fueled by the hate preaching of religious leaders because of their selfish interest. Religious leaders are supposed to emphasise on what binds the people together, and not what will divide them.
“I was in the Army during the crisis of 2000 and I saw the level of destruction. The ugly pictures still linger in my mind till today and I don’t pray for such again.
“Religious leaders should, therefore, not preach hate among their followers. They should not fuel crisis because they want to make name.”
Alawuje also called on security agencies to fish out and prosecute the perpetrators and their sponsors to deter others.