By Wole Mosadomi

The Niger State government has imposed a curfew on Paiko to forestall further breakdown of law and order which had earlier claimed   four lives over leadership control of the township central mosque.

The curfew was declared to forestall   further hostilities between the natives (Gwaris) and the Hausa which started on Wednesday.

A cold war between the the natives of the town who are the Gwaris and the Hausas over who becomes the new Chief Imam of the town had been going on for a while and it had constantly led to a break down of law and order in the past weeks.

Trouble started when the deputy Chief Imam (Na’ibi) of the town died weeks ago and the natives demanded to fill the vacant office, a request which did not go down well with the Hausas who have been in firm control of the leadership of the mosque.

The natives also maintained that as long as they also have qualified people to fill the vacancy, they cannot therefore concede the office to the Hausas.  It was this that eventually led to the  breakdown of law and order in the town.

When the crisis was brought before the new Governor about two weeks ago, the matter was referred to the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Faruoq Bahago, for peaceful resolution but the move failed.

Last Wednesday, the warring groups went haywire and attacked each other which led to the death of   two persons.

It was further gathered that the crisis took a new turn on Friday when some youths in the town challenged and demanded for total overhaul of the leadership of the mosque, rejecting the substantive Chief Imam who is also of Hausa extraction.

This led to another violent clash that claimed the life of a young man while eight others were injured. The fourth person died yesterday morning from the injury he sustained.

The unfolding events in the town led the state government on Saturday to declare curfew in the town from 10pm to 4am until further notice.

The decision was contained in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the State governor, Ibraheem Dooba.

Government said its action was to keep the peace of the town and warned that anybody who violates the order would face appropriate consequences for their infraction.

The statement encourages the warring groups “to be law abiding, eschew violence and demonstrate the abiding peace for which Niger State is renowned”.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Baba Elkan, said all is now calm in the town as the Police is on top of the issue and called on the people to go about their duties without fear while calling on the people to alert the nearest police post of any attempt by anybody or group that tries to cause crisis.