The Borno-based vigilance group, the Civilian JTF, has called on the 7 Division, Nigerian Army, to relax the curfew in Maiduguri, to enable it to contribute more in checkmating suspected terrorists.
Jubrin Gunda, the Legal Adviser to the group, made the call while addressing newsmen on Thursday in Maiduguri.
Gunda said relaxing the curfew would enable members of his group to keep a 24-hour vigil on major roads leading into the city.
“We want to appeal to the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army and the state government to please review or lift the current 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew in Maiduguri.
“We believe that the curfew has given individuals with bad intention easy access to the state capital as our members have been kept away,” Gunda said.
He said that the vigilance members would have done their bit to prevent the Jan. 14 blast if they had been allowed to keep a vigil.
More than 18 people reportedly died when a bomb went off in Maiduguri metropolis during the day.
“It is a matter of fact that our members would have tried to prevent the vehicles carrying the explosives into the town if they were on the streets keeping vigil,” Gunda said.
He, however, assured that the group would continue to work towards enthroning peace in the state in spite of the curfew.
“We need the support and assistance of the entire residents of the state to ensure peace. The residents must assist us with useful information on safeguarding our society,” Gunda said.
He also called on political parties in the state to call their supporters, especially youths, to order to avoid taking the laws into their hand.
“We hereby appeal to political parties to call their youth wings to order with a view to preventing breach of security in the state.”