Lagos - Authorities in central Nigeria on Friday imposed an indefinite dusk-to-dawn curfew on Okene, a city believed to be home to gunmen who caused panic at a public rally in Lokoka, the nearby capital of Kogi State.
"An indefinite curfew is hereby imposed on Okene following a state of insecurity in the city and its environs," Kogi State Governor Ibrahim Idris said on official Radio Nigeria.
The curfew will run daily from 7pm until 6am until further notice, the governor said.
Gunmen last Monday in Lokoja caused mayhem when they disrupted an official public event organised at the stadium to mark a "Democracy Day" celebration in the state and attended by top dignatories including the governor.
Gunshots fired by the intruders, who wore uniform, sent participants scampering for safety and led to an abrupt end of the ceremony.
Scores of people were injured during the fracas while many cars parked within and outside the stadium, including those belonging to state officials, were vandalised in the disturbances.
The pandemonium resulted from a misunderstanding between members of two factions of the ruling People's Democratic Party in the state, according to the police.
Officials in the state alleged that the gunmen were youths from Okene. - Sapa-AFP