Sunday, February 5, 2023
  • REPORT A STORY
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • CONTACT
WITHIN NIGERIA
  • Home
  • Features
  • News Picks
  • Entertainment
  • Gist
  • Articles
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
WITHIN NIGERIA
  • Home
  • Features
  • News Picks
  • Entertainment
  • Gist
  • Articles
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
WITHIN NIGERIA
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Features
  • News Picks
  • Entertainment
  • Gist
  • Articles
  • Videos

TRENDING IN 7-DAYS

As Adeleke defends victory…Nigerian governors who lost a tribunal and an appeal

February 3, 2023

Lady Strips Naked, Drags Her Butt Through The Street To Curse Her Boyfriend Who Dumped Her

September 20, 2019

Nigerian porn star, Savage Trap Queen accuses Tblak of assault

December 30, 2018

Skeleton Of A Girl Who Died Ten Years Ago Found Inside Pastor’s House in Ogun State

May 15, 2020

Easy Steps To locate your PVC Collection Centre

January 17, 2023
  JUST IN
Amid scarcity of new Naira notes, POS operators recount survival battles February 5, 2023
Adeleke’s loss: Nigerian Governors that lost election tribunal but won at appeal, supreme court February 3, 2023
Fuel scarcity and new Naira notes: Tension in Osun community as residents plan protest February 3, 2023
As Adeleke defends victory…Nigerian governors who lost a tribunal and an appeal February 3, 2023
Youths, Money, Insecurity, Major Determiners Of 2023 General Election January 30, 2023
Next
Prev

POPULAR TODAY

XTRA

Lady Strips Naked, Drags Her Butt Through The Street To Curse Her Boyfriend Who Dumped Her

September 20, 2019

Hope dims for ASUU after Appeal court ruling

One year after, Enugu farmers say they are yet to see the impacts of anti open grazing law

ADVERTISEMENT

Curfew in Enugu local governments: The Untold story of how soldiers unleash terror on residents, brutalize, extort motorists

in Features, Metro
Reading Time: 5 mins read
0
Ola PeterbyOla Peter
August 8, 2022
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

For the people of Igbo-Eze North  local government area of Enugu state, life is gradually becoming unbearable following dusk to dawn curfew imposed on the council area by the state government on June 10, 2022. The curfew was coming on the heels of continuous clash between the Fulani herdsmen and the Aguibeji community.

Our reporter gathered that as the clash continued, the Indeginous People of Biafra IPOB members in the area started hoisting Biafran flags at so many strategic places in the area, thereby escalating the crisis in the area.

Also recall that gunmen had stormed the mechanic workshop of a popular transport mogul in the area, Chief Matthew Adonu, killed two of his police escorts and made away with their service rifles.

As if that was not enough, the gunmen also raided the home of the member representing Igbo-Eze North/Udenu Federal Constituency,  Hon. Simon Atigwe. They shot their way into the compound and shattered the tyres of exotic vehicles parked in the premises before storming the home of the traditional ruler of Aji Essodo community, Igwe Simeon Itodo, where they also fired gunshots in the air before leaving the scene.

READ ALSO

Amid scarcity of new Naira notes, POS operators recount survival battles

Fuel scarcity and new Naira notes: Tension in Osun community as residents plan protest

Local miners ignore Adeleke’s directive, continue to mine gold

Osun college students decry infrastructural decay, hunger amid resumption

How sport bettings made young Nigerians poorer —PHOTOS

Following a security report, the Federal Government drafted soldiers into the area, while the state government imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in Igbo-Eze North and Igbo-Eze South local government areas. But the purveyors of violence remained undaunted as they stormed the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the council area at midnight and burnt the entire facility.

However, with the imposition of dusk to dawn curfew and subsequent deployment of hundreds of military personnel to ensure the strict compliance of the order, our reporter gathered that the socio-economic situation of the area has changed.

When Within Nigeria visited Ogrute, the headquarters of the council area, there was palpable fear and trepidation among the community dwellers. Our reporter also gathered that many businesses have literally collapsed due to the prolonged curfew. One of the shop owners Chijioke Abugu who spoke to Within Nigeria lamented the high level of economic hardship the prolonged curfew has brought to his family.

According to Mr. Abugu, ” the situation is really unbearable. As you can see, I sell  drinks here. My business strives in the evening say from 6:30pm but with this curfew, nobody comes out again  in the evening to take drinks because of this curfew. Before 6pm, we have already started running helter skelter to close for the day.”

Lamenting further, Mr. Abugu explained that ” before this curfew was imposed on our council area, I was making ten thousand naira every day as profit. As you can see I sell palm wine, beer, soft drinks and even pepper soup. But today, I hardly make two thousand, five hundred naira in a day. You can just imagine the level of hardship we are currently experiencing as a result of this curfew. Beyond all these, my own case is even worse because I borrowed five hundred thousand naira from a Microfinance bank here. One week after I borrowed this money, this curfew was imposed on our council area. Since then, the bank has been disturbing me to repay the loan while I can hardly make anything from my business now. I am appealing to the government to lift this curfew so that we can go back to our normal life.”

Another business man, Mr. Clement Eya also told our reporter that he has not been finding it funny since the beginning of the curfew. ” I am a patent medicine dealer. My business is mainly done from 5pm to 11pm. But as it stands now, I have only one hour or so to do the business because of this curfew. Before quarter to six in the evening, we are already closing our shops. If you waste time and these soldiers see you in your shop, you are on your own and I am sure you know what I mean by that. Please, I want you people to talk to the governor of Enugu state, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to look at our plight and suspend this curfew because we are not finding it funny any longer.”

Perhaps the case of Mr. John Nwodo (not real names) seemed to be more pathetic. According to him, military personnel deployed to council area are causing more harm than good.

In his explanation, these soldiers are no longer doing what they were sent to do. Rather, they have turned the curfew to money-making apparatus.

“On Tuesday last week, I was called that my mother was critically sick. As I was rushing home to take her to the hospital, these soldiers came out from their hiding inside bush and asked me to stop which I obeyed. They beat me mercilessly without even asking why I was rushing with my bike that evening. They took me and my bike to the local government secretariate at Ogrute. After about one hour, they told me to pay fifteen thousand naira; five thousand naira for me and ten thousand naira for my motorbike. I left them and started trekking from there to Umuagama village. When I got home, my mother has died. ”

Narrating further he said, ” two days later, I went back to retrieve my motorbike and they told me that I must pay N15,000; N5,000 for me and N10,000 for my motorbike. I paid the sum of fifteen thousand naira for my motorbike to be released at Ogrute, headquarters of our local government. As I am talking to you, every day, more than twenty motorbikes are being forcefully seized by these military men just for the purpose of collecting money from their owners.”

in the midst of the confusion, alleged brutality and extortion meted out on these residents, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi visited the scene recently, where he inspected and assessed the level of damage and also interacted with residents, urging them to support the security agents and the government in making their communities safe and conducive for living.

Chairman of Igbo-Eze North LGA, Itodo, who spoke after the governor’s visit, appealed to youths in the area to shun violence and  urging them not to resort to arson and destruction but, instead, embrace peace and civility for the overall development and progress of the people.

The chairman said the descent to anarchy and destruction of public property would do one no good as the people would be the ultimate losers at the end of the day if public institutions and private establishments are destroyed.

While condemning the actions of the arsonists, Itodo noted that the Ugwuanyi administration had initiated meaningful engagements with the youths, which his administration at the local level in Igbo-Eze North had emulated by trying to carry the youths along in executing government policies and maintaining an open-door administration, where the people could access to their leaders and also get feedback from government.

However, the last straw that broke the carmels happened on Sunday, August 7, 2022 when a 62-year-old electrician, Joseph Uja, was  killed by soldiers enforcing a curfew imposed on two local government areas in Enugu State.

The incident happened at Enugu-Ezike in the Igbo-Eze North LGA, one of the councils affected by the 6pm to 6am curfew while the second council is Igbo-Eze South.

The killing was said to have sparked tension around Enugu-Ezike town of Ogurute, as people feared a reprisal from community youths.

According to reports, a resident, who asked not to be identified for security reasons, said on Sunday that the soldiers mistakenly shot the victim while he passed their checkpoint.

Uja was reportedly returning from Nsukka, where he went to buy electrical materials for his customers when the incident happened.

According to the resident, “Joseph Uja was killed by soldiers who were trying to deflate somebody’s tyres yesterday. Uja was from Igogoro, Enugu Ezike, Igboeze North LGA.”

It was also  reported that the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, and the Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Col. Abubakar Abdullahi, did not respond to calls or text messages for reaction.

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Got News Tip? Send Us Story !
Follow Us on Google News

MOST READ TODAY

Lady Strips Naked, Drags Her Butt Through The Street To Curse Her Boyfriend Who Dumped Her

September 20, 2019

Adeleke’s loss: Nigerian Governors that lost election tribunal but won at appeal, supreme court

February 3, 2023

As Adeleke defends victory…Nigerian governors who lost a tribunal and an appeal

February 3, 2023

Nigerian porn star, Savage Trap Queen accuses Tblak of assault

December 30, 2018

Easy Steps To locate your PVC Collection Centre

January 17, 2023

Faster Updates

Get News Via Whatsapp
Get News Via Telegram
Follow Us on Google News
Got News Tip? Send Us Story !

LATEST UPDATES

Amid scarcity of new Naira notes, POS operators recount survival battles

February 5, 2023

Adeleke’s loss: Nigerian Governors that lost election tribunal but won at appeal, supreme court

February 3, 2023

Fuel scarcity and new Naira notes: Tension in Osun community as residents plan protest

February 3, 2023

As Adeleke defends victory…Nigerian governors who lost a tribunal and an appeal

February 3, 2023
Pic.49.  Voters voting  at the Nomadic Primary  School, Polling Unit , at  Tudun-Fulani , during the FCT Area Council at Bwari Area Council in  Abuja  on Saturday (9/03/19). 
02036/9/3/2019/Sumail Ibrahim/JAU/NAN

Youths, Money, Insecurity, Major Determiners Of 2023 General Election

January 30, 2023
Tinubu Loses ‘Most Trusted’ Aide

Fuel scarcity, new Naira notes: What makes Ogun State such a confident place for Tinubu?

January 30, 2023
N-Power: Forum lauds Sadiya Farouq, vows to expose ungrateful characters behind the attempt to smear Minister’s image

FG: 2022 flood caused N4.2 trn economic loss

January 28, 2023

Presidency: Imported goods killing local production

January 28, 2023

Govt reveals why UK is recruiting Nigerian teachers

January 28, 2023

PDP chieftain reveals why Makinde can not work against Atiku

January 28, 2023
Load More

Discussion about this post

ADVERTISEMENT

EDITOR PICKS

Amid scarcity of new Naira notes, POS operators recount survival battles

February 5, 2023

Adeleke’s loss: Nigerian Governors that lost election tribunal but won at appeal, supreme court

February 3, 2023

Fuel scarcity and new Naira notes: Tension in Osun community as residents plan protest

February 3, 2023

As Adeleke defends victory…Nigerian governors who lost a tribunal and an appeal

February 3, 2023
Load More

LATEST NEWS

Lagos police arrest Yoruba Nation agitators

Onuachu pens farewell message to Genk after Southampton move

Police arrest man for allegedly shooting sister's boyfriend

Man United to sell six players including Martial, Maguire

Buhari breaks silence on horrific killing of 41 vigilantes by terrorists

PWDs To Buhari: Direct CBN to publish amount distributed to banks

Osimhen brace sends Napoli 16 points clear in Serie A

Court dismisses PDP suit against Gombe NNPP candidate

Tiwa Savage @ 43: Sophia Momodu relives memories with Singer and their kids during lockdown - VIDEO

Why I dumped music at peak of my career for mass communication – Korede Bello

SERAP sues Lawan, Gbajabiamila over N228b NASS budget

Breaking: Thugs attack convoy of Adamawa first lady, Lami Fintiri

Outrage as MC Oluomo's son sprays new notes on Kwam 1 at an event -VIDEO

Pregnant woman arrested with hard drugs concealed in radio sets

Jigawa: Dutse gets new emir after Nuhu Sunusi death

It seems like we’ve all been played – Afro Candy hints at foul play over Mr Ibu and family reconciliation

Suspected bandit informant, food supplier arrested in Niger

PSC refuses to promote 8 police commissioners, gives reason

Our M. branch has uncovered plans to assassinate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, IPOB reveals

"He just hang him hand" - Reactions as Wizkid snubs White man's handshake in public, walks away -VIDEO

Why I spelt my name wrongly on shirts – Casemiro

Two Nigerian nationals arrested with drugs worth over N6m in India

NDLEA intercepts europe-bound drug consignments at Lagos airport

Video of Bella Shmurda dancing in feminine dress with Indian lady sparks reactions

WITHIN NIGERIA

WITHIN NIGERIA MEDIA LTD.

NEWS, MULTI MEDIA

WITHIN NIGERIA is an online news media that focuses on authoritative reports, investigations and major headlines that springs from National issues, Politics, Metro, Entertainment; and Articles.

Follow us on social media:

CORPORATE LINKS

  • About
  • Contacts
  • Report a story
  • Advertisement
  • Content Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
 
  • Fact-Checking Policy
  • Ethics Policy
  • Corrections Policy
  • WHO IS WITHIN NIGERIA?
  • CONTACT US
  • PRIVACY
  • TERMS

© 2022 WITHIN NIGERIA MEDIA LTD. designed by WebAndName

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Features
  • News Picks
  • Entertainment
  • Gist
  • Articles
  • Videos

© 2022 WITHIN NIGERIA MEDIA LTD. designed by WebAndName

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In