Lockdown: Kwara residents besiege markets, malls

Residents of Ilorin on Thursday besieged shopping malls, markets and other places to get items such as food and other commodities to stock their homes as government announced a total lockdown of the state.

The State  Government had earlier on Thursday announced a total lockdown of the state as part of efforts to prevent spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

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The order starts from 6 p.m on Friday till further notice.

Announcing the lockdown of the state at a news conference in Ilorin, the state Deputy Governor and Chairman Technical Committee on COVID-19, Mr Kayode Alabi, said it is to prevent spread of the virus, following the official confirmation of two victims of the scourge in the state.

He however said foodstuff sellers and operators of medicine shops and banks would be allowed to operate on Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 10 a.m and 2 p.m in li e with Federal Government policy.

There were heavy traffic in the evening as people move out to stock their homes with food stuff.

According to reports that many of the shopping malls and shops visited complied with the social-distancing order as they only allowed few customers in to buy before others are allowed again.

Many of the fuel stations also witnessed large crowd of people as residents refilled their vehicle tanks while others bought in jerry cans in case of power outage.