Lockdown: Unrest, Hunger Persist as Nigerians Cry for Help

The adverse effect of the lockdown order by the Federal and State Government has begun to manifest as many cases of armed robbery attacks, breaking and looting of shops have been reported in the last couple of days.

President Muhammadu Buhari, had on March 29, in a nationwide broadcast ordered a 14-day restriction of movement in Lagos and Ogun States as well as the Federal Capital Territory as part of measures to contain the spread of the novel Coronavirus that has claimed thousands of lives globally.

Also on Saturday, the President disclosed that the restriction of movement will continue till scientific advisers declared it necessary to be lifted.

“But we must ask you – once more – to observe restrictions on movement where they are in place, and follow the instructions of our scientists and medical advisers: stay home, wash your hands, save lives.

“The freedoms we ask you to willingly forsake today will only last as long as our scientific advisers declare they are necessary. But they are essential – world over – to halt and defeat the spread of this virus.” Buhari said in a statement issued by his media assistant, Garba Shehu.

While the Presidency had announced different palliatives to cushion the effect of the state at home order, many Nigerians have decried the process and complained that the palliatives didn’t get to them.

RootstvNigeria had also reported how many residents of Abuja and Lagos defied the lockdown order with unusual gridlocks witnessed at most of the roads leading to the city centres.

Residents in Fear as Robbery Persists

In Ogun and Lagos States, many residents could no longer sleep with their two eyes closed as hoodlums have been on the looting spree in different communities in the State.

Some Nigerians took to Twitter to share their experiences while others sought the assistance of government.

 

 

Also on Sunday, a video of a food supplier who got robbed by miscreants in Lagos went viral. While no bodily harm was done to the driver, food items worth thousands of naira were looted.

 

150 Arrested

After several complaints of negligence by the government and security agencies, many residents in Ogun and Lagos States took to self-defense and formed a neighborhood watch as the robbery incidents persist.

On Sunday, the Ogun State Police Command paraded about 150 suspects apprehended at different communities in the state.

The state’s Commissioner of Police, Kenneth Ebrimson however downplayed the robbery incidents saying what is being experienced are cases of supremacy battle among groups of cultists following murder of a member.

He said the unrest was caused by seven cult groups, namely: Ilena boys, Federal boys, Lemon boys, Base boys, Sahara boys, Gbese boys and Marindoti boys.

Abiodun Reacts

Meanwhile, the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, has vowed to deal ruthlessly with criminals in the state. Abiodun, in a statement signed by Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, said: “It has become expedient that we do not spare the rod and spoil the child. Anybody, no matter whose child he or she is, if found guilty of armed robbery, would be visited with the full weight of the law, including capital punishment.” He commended the State Police Command for its swiftness and prompt adherence to directive of the State Government to flush out those turning the sit-at-home order to a criminal enterprise.

With the current situation around the country most especially in the FCT, Lagos and Ogun States, some intelligence agencies have predicted that Nigerians may witness tougher social disorders of unimaginable consequences.