ENDSARS: Curfew spreads to Ebonyi, Enugu, Rivers

By CHARLES ONYEKWERE, Abakaliki, With NAN reports

The curfew arising from the ENDSARS protests on Wednesday spread to Ebonyi, Enugu and Rivers states.

In Ebonyi State, Governor David Umahi imposed a 24 hour curfew in the state starting from 7pm yesterday following attacks and destruction of government facilities by hoodlums and suspected cultists.

In a statewide broadcast, the State Governor noted that hoodlums and cultists took over the peaceful protest by ENDSARS protesters in the state.

He noted that the hoodlums made attempt to set police stations within the state capital ablaze, adding that attempt was also made by the hoodlums to set prisoners free from the Abakaliki prison which, he said, was resisted by security agents.

Governor Umahi further said that government vehicles and other facilities were under heavy attack by the hoodlums, adding that many security agents sustained various degrees of injuries as the hoodlums and cultist shot at them.

He regretted that those that perpetrated the act were not Ebonyi people but agents brought into the state by yet to be identified individuals noted that the hoodlums does not wish well for the state.

He commended security agents for their patience and wisdom in tackling the matter and appealed to Ebonyi people to resist any plot by strangers to come into the state and destroy the modest achievement recorded by his administration.

In neighbouring Enugu State, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi imposed a 24-hour curfew on some local government headquarters of the state, as the EndSARS protests reportedly turned violent in the areas on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that tension began to build up in the affected areas, when suspected hoodlums allegedly hijacked the protests.

The hoodlums allegedly put up bonfires in different parts of Enugu metropolis, Enugu-Onitsha Expressway and Nike Lake Road.

The development heightened the fear among residents, forcing banks, shops and business premises in Abakpa, Trans-Ekulu, Nike Road, Liberty Road and Emene to close early in the day to avoid attack.

Also, many public and private schools within the metropolis closed earlier in the day to allow pupils and students to return home safely.

NAN also reports that the development resulted in heavy traffic in most roads in the city.

It was observed that the presence of military operatives at the popular Okpara Square, where the protesters usually assembled scared away protesters from the area.

A resident of Trans-Ekulu, Mr Joseph Ogbu, said that the hoodlums blocked traffic to Trans-Ekulu, Abakpa and Nike Area with bonfires.

“I was in my office when I saw people running helter-skelter and immediately we came out, we saw the protesters coming towards our office so we hurriedly locked up.

“We were told that the angry protesters were destroying vehicles and people’s shops around Nike area.

“The situation is becoming worse. State Government needs to act very fast to avert blood-shed in the state,” Ogbu said.

Also, a fashion designer at Ogui Road, Nkechi Onu, said she closed business when she heard that the protest had turned violent in the area.

“Even though they have yet to get to our area, we need to stay safe and avoid being attacked,” Onu said.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Daniel Ndukwe, said that the command was making frantic efforts to bring the situation under control.

“We are already returning normalcy, calm and peace to the embattled parts of the metropolis,” Ndukwe said.

Similarly, the Rivers Government imposed an indefinite 24 hours curfew in violence-affected areas, following the ongoing EndSARS protest in the state.

Governor Nyesom Wike who stated this in a statewide broadcast after a security meeting in Government House Port Harcourt, said that the curfew would start on Wednesday at 6.30 p.m.

The areas affected are the entire Oyigbo Local Government Area (LGA), Mile 1, Mile 2, Emenike, Ikokwu and Iloabuchi, all in Port Harcourt LGA as well as Oil Mill area in Obio/Akpor LGA.

Wike said that the state security council commended the peaceful nature of the EndSARS protest in the state.

He regretted that it was becoming clear by the day that the protest had been hijacked by hoodlums to unleash carnage and destroy property.

Wike said that some hoodlums attacked and destroyed police stations and court buildings in Oyigbo Local Government Area of the state on Wednesday.

According to him, another set of hooligans were also on rampage at the Ikokwu spare-parts market, disturbing public peace and damaging property.

“As a government, we cannot watch helplessly and allow trouble-makers to take the law into their hands and use the current situation to create a state of panic and insecurity,” he said.

Wike explained that the State Security Council met and decided to take measures to secure lives and property in the state.

According to him, a 24-hour curfew has been imposed on Mile 1, Mile 2, Emenike, Ikokwu and Iloaubuchi areas of Port Harcourt from 6.30 p.m. Oct. 21.

“A 24-hour curfew has been imposed on the entire Oyigbo Local Government Area from 6.30 p.m. Oct. 21.

“A 24-hour curfew has also been imposed on Oil mill area in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area,” he added.

The governor said that security agencies had been directed to enforce the curfew with effect from 6.30 p.m. on Oct. 21.

He directed the local government chairmen to mobilize vigilantes and work with security agencies to ensure that no hoodlum “is allowed to disturb the peace or destroy lives and property in their LGAs.

“We urge all citizens to remain vigilant and report all suspicious characters to the security agencies for immediate action,” he started.

Wike appealed to youths in Rivers not to allow themselves to be used to roll-back the peace the state was enjoying under any pretext.