Lockdown: Angry traders take over Asaba streets

Angry traders in Asaba, Delta state have moved into various streets in the areas despite the government’s lockdown order.

Investigation revealed that at the weekend, the traders dared the security agents as they invaded Nnebisi Road and Ogbeogonogo Market in Asaba, with their goods on display on the walkways waiting for potential buyers.

While most shops were locked, our saw youths assembled at the computer market without maintaining social distance.

A trader at Asaba Secondary School Makeshift Market, who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity, described the situation as pathetic and condemned a situation where people ignore social distancing as directed by the state government

At Ezenel Road in Asaba, it was observed that residents, commercial buses and tricycles were flouting the restriction order in the presence of security agents.

A Yoruba trader who sells herbal medicine, Ademola Alani, who spoke to journalists, said that hunger was the major reason for the traders being on the streets, lamenting that since the state government failed to provide food for everybody in the state, It was the only way to eke out a living and ensure the level of hunger is reduced.

Meanwhile, security operatives impounded six vehicles and arrested 20 persons who did not comply with the sit-at-home order as directed by the state government.

Also, 100 vehicles, including heavy duty trucks and luxury buses coming from other states were in the early hours of Saturday stranded on the Niger Bridge Head causing serious gridlock despite the lockdown order directive by the state government.

Investigation revealed that Asaba, Ughelli and Warri metropolis are worst hit as motorists are allowed to operate unhindered after allegedly bribing security agents.

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But, the state Commissioner of Police, Hafiz Inuwah, who spoke to journalists in Asaba, denied the allegations, insisting that any security agents caught in the act, would be dismissed.

Inuwah warned that the lockdown order was still in force until the order from the state Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, relaxing it, otherwise violators will be charged to court accordingly.

Some of the traders, who spoke to journalists in Asaba on condition of anonymity, said: “We are hungry, We have no money to cook for our families, we have to sell our markets to survive, we cannot be waiting at home endlessly and government is not paying us, even the so called food did not get to us, so we are selling our food items.”