A resident of Karmo in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Friday, narrated to media how security agents, including members of neighbourhood watch, encourage inter-state journeys despite directives against opening of state borders in efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19.
The middle-aged man, who identified himself as Clement, from Obollo-Afor, successfully travelled from Abuja to Ogrute, Igboeze North Local Government Area of Enugu State, Thursday. He said despite the “noise” about border closures, motorists still do their businesses fully aided by those mandated to checkmate such travels. During the reporter’s encounter with Clement at New Market, Enugu, he explained :“The difference is that the vehicles that now flourish in the business are not marked buses, like Peace Mass and Ifesinachi. They are unregistered ones. I returned Thursday. It was a morning travel, so I don’t know how others travel at night. I boarded a bus en route to Enugu from Zuba. The bus was fully loaded, and there were many passengers waiting to board. The loading was done at the park, so union [NURTW] members are aware because they collected commissions. “We encountered over 120 checkpoints before we arrived at Ogrute where I alighted to board an Okada to my place. Our bus however did not follow the major route to Enugu. It was basically local routes, inside Igala land. Each checkpoint we got to, the driver paid some money. Some collected N200, some N500, some N1000, and some even N2000. It is more common in border communities between Kogi and Enugu-Ezike. We met many vigilante groups manning checkpoints. You pay them and they allow you to pass. There was a place that we were turned back totally. Then the villagers guided us through another road to continue our journey. They were also paid. We met policemen and also soldiers.” Clement, who refused to disclose his exact place at Obollo-Afor, however, said a majority of passengers in the bus were mainly youths, comprising Igbo and non-Igbo. According to him, “Some of them are traders whose goods had been transported ahead of them through trailers to Obollo-Afor and beyond. We believe there is Covid-19, but it is like what we have in Nigeria is malaria. Things are becoming difficult; so we must try to survive. The lockdown opened shops for those at checkpoints. Let me tell you again, many night travellers do not encounter many problems like we did. Okada people also benefit because they are stationed at border communities. From Ogrute to Obollo-Afor used to be N100, but I paid N600 to get to my house.” He further said the people of his village never threatened to report him to the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, and he had been mingling freely with them since his return. Reacting to this development, Chief James Ugwu, a former council chairman of Udenu Local Government Area, called for financial rewards for people who report those that sneak into their villages from outside Enugu State as a measure to curb the spread of the pandemic.
Ugwu told our correspondent in Enugu that, “There should be financial rewards for those who proactively report those that flout restriction orders by sneaking into their communities. Traditional rulers and presidents general should also rise up to this challenge. If we continue like this, I foresee danger because the consequences of community transmission will be adverse. Advertisement “Again, the NCDC has warned that elderly people are more at risk, and a majority of them live in villages. Such people sabotage efforts of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who does not sleep at night to ensure that we defeat this pandemic.”***prbxselfnetwork***
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