Niger State Government has imposed a 24-hour curfew in the state following the on-going nationwide strike over increase in pump price of fuel which turned violent, yesterday, with protesters setting fire to public and private properties.

The government asked the residents to bear the hardship as this was a critical measure aimed at ensuring normalcy in the state.

Meanwhile, Deputy Inspector-General of Police, DIG, of “C” Department, Alhaji Saleh Abubakar, was, yesterday, forced to travel through a bush path on his way to Ilorin as protesting youths in Minna, who mounted blockades asked him to disembark from his car and raise his hands.

He narrated his ordeal at the police headquarters in Kwara State Police Command, Ilorin. Abubakar said his convoy of heavily armed escorts did not save him from the experience he described as very embarrassing.

Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Daniel Shashere, said: ‘’Protest by organised labour and civil societies which started peacefully on Monday in Niger State has, today (yesterday), been hijacked by miscreants and hoodlums, who have decided to take the laws into their hands by creating bonfires on the streets of Minna and torching public and private properties.

‘’Following this ugly development, government has a responsibility to protect lives and property and has, therefore, decided to impose a 24-hour curfew with immediate effect in the headquarters of the 25 local government areas of the state.

‘’Only persons on essential services, who should carry proper identification, are exempted from this order. Other citizens are warned to stay indoors until further notice.

‘’Nigerlites should regard this as a critical measure necessary to curtail further wanton lawlessness by unscrupu-lous elements in the society.

“All Nigerlites are assured of their safety and should not panic as government is already on top of the situation.’’