The Member of Parliament for Nalerigu/Gambaga, Nurudeen Mohammed Mumuni, has sharply criticised the government’s decision to impose a curfew on Nalerigu and its surrounding communities, describing the move as haphazard, unjustified, and lacking proper coordination.
Speaking on the Channel One Newsroom on Sunday, July 27, 2025, shortly after the Ministry of the Interior announced the curfew, the MP expressed strong dissatisfaction with how the situation was being handled. He revealed that compliance with the curfew directive had been patchy, attributing it to public disillusionment and mistrust.
“If you look at the curfew that they imposed this afternoon, I can tell on authority some are observing the curfew in Nalerigu and Gambaga and other places. But unfortunately, it is not everybody who is observing the curfew right now because the people are not happy, the people are disappointed,” he said.
According to the lawmaker, many residents view the curfew as both “unjustifiable and unacceptable,” especially given what he called the glaring disorganisation within the security setup on the ground.
“It is like the security themselves are not well prepared… [and] the leadership of the security agencies, including the Interior Minister—it’s like the imposition of the curfew was not a well-thought plan. So there is no proper coordination about this particular issue,” the MP added.
The curfew, which runs daily from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., was imposed by the Ministry of the Interior on the advice of the North East Regional Security Council. Officials cited rising tensions and deteriorating security conditions in the region as the basis for the decision.
However, the announcement has done little to calm nerves. Many residents remain uneasy and unconvinced of the curfew’s effectiveness in curbing violence or restoring order. Critics argue that it punishes innocent civilians without addressing the root causes of the insecurity.
The Interior Ministry, in its official statement, appealed for calm, urging chiefs, elders, youth, and all residents to seek peaceful means of resolving disputes. It also warned that anyone caught in possession of arms, ammunition, or offensive weapons would face arrest and prosecution.
But for MP Nurudeen Mohammed Mumuni, the government must do more than issue warnings and curfews. He insists that restoring trust and ensuring peace in the area will require better planning, genuine engagement with local leaders, and a credible show of leadership from the national security establishment.
