Dusk-to-dawn curfew: Robbery cases shoot up in Ughelli, Asaba

…As 129 violators are arraigned in Asaba

Following the dusk- to dawn curfew imposed by the Delta state Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, to curb the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, residents of Asaba and Ughelli are groaning over the persistent attacks from armed robbers.

Investigation revealed that these hoodlums, armed with sophisticated weapons have taken over Asaba as they visit unsuspecting residents demanding for money, prized valuables and even foodstuffs.

Victims of the robbery attacks who spoke of their ordeal in Asaba on condition of anonymity, described the situation as pathetic.

“We are under siege of robbery and the robbers who visit us at gunpoint will demand for pots of soup, garri, rice and yams and money if you have.

“They will not shoot whenever they come to your house and this time they came to our house and asked for pots of soup, and others and we had to obey,” they told journalists.

Worse hit in the robbery spree in Asaba are Okwe quarters, Umuagwu, Ogbeosowa Quarters, Okpanam Community near Asaba, Coka Quarters, Ibusa Junction, Summit Road and Achille Ibusa, among others.

Journalists have also tasted the bitter pill administered by the daredevil robbers as some correspondents in the state on Wednesday night fell victims to the criminals who dispossessed them of cash and other valuables.

A journalist with a national daily who spoke to our reporter on condition of anonymity said: “The robbers came to our house and they demanded for our pots of soup, garri at gunpoint and after collecting all these, they will go away shouting, we are hungry and we need food. Nothing for us during this lockdown, where do we go and get food?”

But, in a swift reaction, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Onome Onovwakpoyeya, who confirmed the development, said that the police have been mobilized to ensure the robbers are arrested.

He added that the state government has made rovision for food items for indigent Deltans and warned that the police will do everything possible to ensure the safety of the people.

“We have received several reports from our monitoring units and we are prepared to ensure these armed bandits are brought to book and charged them to court,” the police spokesman assured.

Meanwhile, investigation reveals that residents of Asaba and Ughelli have continued to defile the curfew imposed by the state government to curtail the movement of people as part of steps to check the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

In Asaba, no fewer than 150 persons were in the early hours of Friday arrested and many vehicles including tricycles impounded for various breaches by security men patrolling various roads and streets.

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Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Onome Onovwakpoyeya, confirmed that out of the 129 persons arraigned on Friday, 102 defaulters were convicted by the mobile courts established by the state government to try defaulters.

In Ughelli community, it was observed that residents were violating the curfew and according to a commercial motorcyclist who gave his name as Anthony Owhoro, “we cannot spend 24 hours sitting indoors because some of us must go out before our family can get daily bread.”