Air Peace has announced a temporary suspension of flights to the Kaduna International Airport Nigerian due to the 24-hour curfew imposed on Kaduna metropolis and its environs.
It would be recalled that at least 55 people were confirmed killed in the Kasuwar Magani violence that had a religious undertone.
Consequently, the Kaduna State government on Friday imposed a 24-hour curfew on Kasuwar Magani and on Sunday extended the curfew to Kaduna town and its environs to forestall the any reprisal attacks.
Spokesman for Air Peace Mr. Chris Iwarah said in an interview that the airline took the decision after the state government imposed the curfew due to security threats.
NAN quotes Iwarah as saying that scheduled operations resume as soon as normalcy was restored.
“If it was a half day curfew, we would have taken another approach to it but now what we heard is that the curfew is for 24 hours.
“We expect that this will not last for long, maybe a day or two and we can change our position, but for now, there is nothing we can do because we cannot risk the lives of our valued guests and crew.
“We don’t want anybody to be caught up in the clashes around that environment. We believe the government knows better,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has advised persons who intend travelling through Kaduna to consider taking alternative routes.
Speaking on Channels Television prorgramme ‘Sunrise Daily’ on Monday, the police spokesman, Mr. Jimoh Moshood, said this measure is imperative to forestall attack as the police is working to maintain calm in troubled area.”
“We advise those who will be passing through Kaduna, because Kaduna is gateway to so many states to the north, top make use of alternative routes. They can by-pass Kaduna metro for now because the 24 hours curfew is only within Kaduna metro and in Kajuru local government.
“There are quite a number of alternative routes that can make use of. The announcement has been made since yesterday and we want those who have relatives who want to travel to advise them to make use of alternative routes to by-pass alternative routes,” he said.
Moshood added that “adequate security service has been made for those who will be making use of the train service from Abuja to Kaduna and other parts of the country.”
He also said the curfew imposed on Kaduna metropolis will be lifted as soon as normalcy returns.
“Before now, the announcement have been made that there is 24 hours curfew. We so much believe that as soon as normalcy is restored and evaluation of this normalcy is done, the curfew will wind down, if not completely but restricted to some places.”