Tension in Delta, Anambra as Okowa, Obiano declare curfew

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has declared a 48-hour curfew across the state.

Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, also on Thursday, declared a 24-hour curfew as violence spread to different parts of the state.

Hoodlums had burnt the Nnewi Central Police Station, killing two persons on Wednesday.

Banks and schools in the state had since shut down as the rampaging thugs attacked residents, looting shops.

The two governors have thus joined their colleagues in Lagos, Edo, Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun states that had earlier gave a similar stay-at-home order to prevent the escalation of the #End SARS protests by youths against police brutality and injustices in government.

Okowa spoke about the curfew while addressing the State Government House reporters on Thursday morning.

He also disclosed that the presentation of the 2021 budget estimates to the House of Assembly sceduled for today had been postponed.

It was learnt that the decision to declare the curfew followed Wednesday’s night violence that erupted at the Koka area of Benin-Asaba-Onitsha expressway.

Hoodlums had allegedly hijacked the #EndSARS protest to unleash mayhem on the area as they set ablze the operation office of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the multi-million naira beautification garden of the state government.

An army officer said to have also been burnt alive could not however confirmed by official sources.

Major roads in the metropolis are already barricaded by protesters and businesses forcefully closed on Wednesday afternoon are yet to reopen.

Okowa also ordered the closure of all public and private primary and secondary schools till November 2, 2020.

It would be recalled that schools had resumed academic activities for the 2020/2021 session on October 12 after the COVID-19-induced holiday of over six months.

In Anambra, Obiano said he was forced by the prevailing circumstances in the state and in the country to do declare the curfew.

In a state address on Thursday, Obiano said, “I am compelled to address you today by the growing tension across the country ignited by recent efforts by Nigerian youths to ask for a better Nigeria.

“While our beloved state remains largely safe and isolated from the boiling sea outside, we have also recorded a few unpleasant incidents in our domain and there is justifiable anger in the land. But we cannot give it a chance to consume us all.

“Consequently, we are taking precautionary steps to prevent further descent to lawlessness in Anambra State by imposing a 24-hour curfew with effect from 8pm today until we bring this rising tension under control.

“Therefore, all schools and markets in Anambra State are hereby closed. All gatherings by groups and associations under any name or label from 8pm are banned. The law enforcement agencies in the state have been duly directed to enforce compliance.

“However, all law enforcement officers charged with ensuring compliance to the restriction on movement must resist the temptation of applying excessive force while attempting to bring the situation under control.”