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BUT for the timely intervention of Governor Ibrahim Turaki of Jigawa State, Wednesday's protest by Muslim youths in the capital, Dutse, would have turned bloody, according to security sources yesterday.
Indeed, the governor himself was almost lynched by the irate youths who were said to be protesting an alleged amorous relationship between a police officer in Dutse and a woman.
The governor, according to sources, had driven to the Dutse mosque to address the youths to assuage their feelings devoid of security aides and paraphernalia. This was to avoid a confrontation between such security men and the youths.
The governor was said to be desperate to avoid bloodshed which might spill over to other parts of the country.
Meanwhile, normalcy has returned to Dutse following the riot that ravaged the entire city. Policemen yesterday patrolled Dutse amidst the humanitarian crisis arising from the loss of residential and commercial houses by victims of the riot.
Non natives were still hesitant to open their shops for business. The state government has imposed a dusk to dawn curfew. Entrance to the city is been heavily manned by stern looking policemen who stop and search cars coming in and out of Dutse.
The Deputy Inspector of Police, Mr. K Z Diindari, who arrived from Abuja to take over security told journalists that their immediate concern was to address the humanitarian crisis confronting victims. The Deputy Inspector General of Police said no life was lost.
K Z Diidari appealed to thousand of non natives taking refuge at the police headquarters to remain calm and avoid actions that could jeopardise the peace.
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