Residents of Oyigbo, in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State have called on Governor Nyesom Wike to relax the dusk to dawn curfew imposed in the community since November 2020.
Wike had on the heels of the #EndSARS protest in the community in October 2020, which led to the death of six soldiers and four policemen, imposed a 24-hour curfew on the community.
The curfew has left the residents cut off from food, medical and other supplies.
The government later relaxed the curfew from 7 pm to 6 am.
But many of the residents, who spoke with Niger Delta Trust, said soldiers deployed to the community to maintain law and order have taken advantage of the curfew to brutalise them.
Some of the residents told our reporter that the hostile attitude of soldiers stationed in community was becoming unbearable alleging they were brutalizing them.
A resident, Cyprian Nwama, alleged that he was flogged by soldiers at School Road Junction at about 7 pm soon after he alighted from a vehicle to board an Okada to convey him home.
He called on the government to relax the curfew to begin from 10.30 pm to enable residents to get back to their respective homes on time.
Another resident, who pleaded anonymity, told our reporter how she witnessed the beating of four young girls by soldiers at a road junction.
“I was in the house that evening but what got my attention was the shouting and wailing of young girls who were being beaten by soldiers. I watched from far how they flogged these young girls, who were coming back from a church programme.’’
The source called on the government to relax the curfew saying soldiers were using it to harass and intimidate residents.
Another resident, who also declined to give his name, told our reporter how he suffered a fracture in his leg while running away from soldiers who he said were chasing residents.
He also called on the government to relax the curfew so that residents would move freely in the city.
Emeka Ogbu, another resident, said peace has been restored in Oyigbo, hence there was no reason to continue with the curfew.
“The state government has to relax the curfew because peace has finally come back to Oyigbo. If government cannot remove the curfew completely it has to be relaxed at least from 10.30 pm to 6 am so that people can go about their businesses and come back home before the curfew commenced.
A trader at Eke Oyigbo market said the soldiers always harassed traders the moment it was dusk.
“The moment it’s 6.30 pm they come and start chasing people away. They will be flogging people with horse whip. They are treating us as if we are criminals,” he said.
A top aide to the governor, when contacted, said he was not aware that Oyigbo was still under a curfew.
The aide, who pleaded anonymity, promised to draw the attention of the governor on the plight of the residents.
Spokesman of 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major Charles Ekeocha, said the soldiers were deployed in Oyigbo to maintain peace.
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