At least one person died on Saturday while a police station and the official quarters of a Divisional Police Officer were burnt down in Kusada, headquarters of Kusada local government area of Katsina State during a riot.

The riot follows the arrest of a religious group leader who allegedly led a Friday congregational prayer in the town despite the state government’s directive which banned large gatherings to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Seven vehicles and ten motorcycles were also set ablaze during the riot.

Ninety suspects have also been arrested in connection with the incident.

Eyewitnesses said trouble started when one Mallam Hassan conducted a Friday prayer in one of the Jummaat mosques in the town despite the state government ban on large gatherings.

Hassan was consequently arrested for questioning at the police Area Commander’s office in Malumfashi, the development which was said not to have gone down well with some of his followers.

The followers were alleged to have, on Saturday, attacked and overpowered policemen on duty at Kusada police division and set ablaze the police station and DPO’s Quarters.

They were also alleged to have burnt down seven motor vehicles and ten motorcycles in the premises of the police station.

The town was not accessible for several hours on Saturday because of the incident.

The spokesman for the Katsina police command, SP Gambo Isah confirmed the development. He said normalcy had returned to the town while investigation had already begun on the incident.

He said,

“It can be recalled that Katsina State Government under the leadership of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Katsina State, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, CFR, fnim, issued a restriction orders Nos. SEC.2/T/3 and SEC.2/T/14 dated 25th and 27th March 2020 respectively, directing for the total closure of its borders and suspension of large gatherings for the weekly Friday prayers and Sunday Church services while marriage ceremonies to be conducted in a low key across the state as part of measures taken to curtail the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic.

“However, yesterday(Friday) 27/03/2020 some disgruntled youths under the leadership of one Mallam Hassan tested the will of the state and conducted a Friday prayer in one of the Kusada jumat mosques.

“Subsequently, he was arrested for questioning at Area Commander’s office, Malumfashi which did not go down well with some of his followers.

“ Consequently, today(Saturday) 28/03/2020 at about 09:00hrs, this particular group organized themselves in such a tumultuous manner, rioting, attacked and overpowered the policemen on duty at Kusada Division, set ablaze the police station and DPO’s Quarters. They also burnt down seven motor vehicles and ten motorcycles in custody of the police station.

“ The Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command, CP Sanusi Buba, psc ordered for the deployment of police patrol teams and a special joint security task force on the Enforcement of public gathering in the state led by DC Operations, to the area which have already restored normalcy. Ninety (90) suspected rioters have been arrested while one of the rioters lost his life as a result of the encounter. Investigation is ongoing.”