In Borno: Vehicular movements banned from Thursday evening to Sunday morning

All vehicular traffic has been restricted in Maiduguri, Borno State, from 5pm Thursday December 31 to Saturday 6am January 2, 2016.

All vehicular traffic has been restricted in Maiduguri, Borno State, from 5pm Thursday December 31 to Saturday 6am January 2, 2016.

Borno State Commissioner of Information, Dr. Mohammed Bulama, stated that measures like this have become necessary for the state government, in order to protect the lives if the people.

The comminsioner said “While wishing you a hitch free New Year, members of the public are please requested to be more vigilant and security conscious throughout the period and report any suspicious person or movement to the nearest security agency.

Residents have expressed dissatisfaction in the frequent banning of vehicular traffic in the Maiduguri Metropolis and has urged the State government and security agencies to come up with new ideas to manage safety, instead of a ban on vehicles movement and argued that it was subjecting the residents to unnecessary hardship.

A resident, Haruna Yaro, claimed that the restrictions of movement within Metropolis was to punish citizens. “Is it every holiday that they will ask to stay homes? Do they know that it affects many poor families?” He queried to our correspondent.

Another resident, Yusuf Baba, said “I expect the State government and security agencies to come up with new ideas instead restrictions of vehicles, they should have ban going out and incoming vehicles for the period.”

The commissioner assured, saying "we wish to assure the good people of Borno State and indeed all law abiding citizens that every step is being taken by government and military authorities to root out terrorists causing mayhem in the society."

Just last week Maiduguri has been attacked by the extremist Islamic insurgency Boko Haram, leaving several dead and injured.