Standstill in Kogi Central as 24 hours curfew takes effect

Commercial and social activities in Kogi Central have been brought to a halt following the emergency 24 hours curfew imposed by Governor Yahaya Bello, Wednesday night.

The governor around 11pm on Wednesday imposed an emergency 24 hours curfew on five local government areas in Kogi central.

The affected local government areas are: Adavi, Ajaokuta, Okene, Okehi and Ogori/Magongo.

No reasons were given by the government for the imposition, in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor, Petra Onyegbule.

Indications have however emerged pointing that the step might not be unconnected with security issues in the affected areas.

The statement on the curfew read: “This is a notice of a 24-hour curfew imposed on residents of the five local government areas of Central Senatorial District beginning from midnight (already commenced). This curfew will last for 24 hours and it is absolute. No movement whatsoever shall be allowed.

“All residents of Adavi, Ajaokuta, Okehi, Okene, Ogori/Magongo local government areas are advised to comply by this directive as anyone who runs foul would have themselves to blame.

“Government regrets every inconvenience this might cause and assures citizens and residents this decision has been taken in the best interest of the state”.

Security challenges in some of the affected areas have emerged of late, including the arson on police station, the killing of three operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), close to the gates of the gates of the Federal College of Education (FCE), in Okene and last week Wednesday’s assassination of a labour leader, Abdulmumini Yakub and one on his visitors, at Okene his residence, while a community another killing had previously occurs the previous day in Adavi.

Speaking with The Nation on the telephone, an agitated resident in Okene, expressed surprise over the development, saying it took them unawares.

The resident, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed that the curfew took effect, saying that the “whole neighbourhood” was bereft of activities.

His words: “We did not get the wind of this…we just woke up to it. We are all forced indoors and the whole neighbourhood remains quite.

“Information reaching us is that the curfew was announced overnight by the government. My son told me that he saw it on the facebook”.