Although state Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema, had imposed a curfew between 9pm and 7am on Monday, several churches and homes were burnt in the cover of darkness between Monday and the early hours of Tuesday.
A security source told our correspondent that situation could have been worse if the governor had not imposed the curfew.
“It was a cat and mouse game between these uncoordinated miscreants and the combined security agencies in the state,” the source said.
Violent protesters had besieged the prison and set the inmates free. They burnt the official vehicles of the prison authorities.
The Commissioner of Police in the Katsina State Police Command, Mallam Ibrahim Mohammed, said the violence in other states of the North had reached Katsina.
“These people, who I will call miscreants, arsonists, criminals and murderers, went on the rampage in some towns in different local government areas, burning tyres, places of worship and people in their homes. This is unbecoming of human beings. It is barbaric. I was shocked with what I saw in Funtua,” he said.
Mohammed confirmed that at least four persons were burnt in their homes while household property, cars and churches were destroyed.
Mohammed said it was “sadism of the highest order,” saying the police would not tolerate it.
“I have a list of those behind this violence, they will all be arrested and prosecuted, no matter their status,” he said.
Mohammed said he had already summoned a meeting of religious and community leaders to ensure that the violence did not escalate.
He said over 107 suspects had been arrested in connection with the mayhem.
Our correspondent gathered that massive destruction of property took place in Malumfashi, Kankari, Daura and Gibia.
At least five churches were burnt in Daura and Funtua. The Peoples Democratic Party secretariat in Kankari; private residents of local PDP leaders; the Shema campaign office were destroyed in the orgy of violence.
The police said the violence in Malumfashi had a peculiar sinister motive to it.
“In Malumfashi, they will evacuate the homes, tell the occupants to come out and then set them ablaze,” the police boss.
Mohammed said security agencies were working hard to ensure that the violence did not escalate or remain till Tuesday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections.
“I appeal to everybody to assist the police with information. I want information from the public about those behind these barbaric acts,” he said.
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