Tension as fire rages, residents scamper for safety, Obiano imposes 24-hour curfew in Anambra


Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano, Thursday, imposed 24 hours curfew in the state following alleged tension in the state including  attacks on some public institutions by hoodlums under the guise of EndSARS protesters.
Some protesters late Wednesday allegedly set some police stations and quarters ablaze at Nnewi and Onitsha, leading to total closure of commercial banks, government ministries and parastatals, shops, markets and schools across the state. 


Obiano, in a statement said the curfew would start from 8pm on Thursday as “the peace and security we have enjoyed in Anambra State in the past seven years is under threat. All hands must be on deck to save Anambra from this danger.
“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.”


He, however, assured all residents and indigenous people of the state of safety, while appealing to religious leaders, community leaders and other interesting groups to help call the youths to order. 
According to him, “I have set up a Judicial Panel of Inquiry to listen to petitions from victims of human rights violations by the defunct SARS. And more importantly, I am happy to announce that we have set aside the sum of N200m to be disbursed as compensations to people who have proven cases of rights violations, torture and deaths from the activities of the defunct SARS in Anambra State. This provision is part of the 2021 Budget which shall be presented to the State House of Assembly in a matter of days.”.


Blueprint reports that as at press time, tension was high at Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi, Ekwulobia and other metropolis as people were seen running helter skelter with no person in sight pursuing them. 
Similarly, fireworks have been setup across various expressway like Arroma axis of Enugu/Onitsha expressway, Nnewi/Owerri road, Upper Iweka and Obodoukwu axis of Enugu/Onitsha and Onitsha/Owerri roads, among others. 

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