By Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt
Security agencies are having a tough time enforcing the 24-hour curfew imposed on some parts of Port Harcourt by Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike as part of measures to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus.
As the curfew entered day three on Thursday, investigations revealed that residents, who were compelled to violate the curfew by different circumstances, were subjected to various punishments by the security operatives.
The Governor imposed dusk to dawn curfew on Obiri-Ikwerre Junction to Choba and from Education Bus Stop to Agip Junction in Port Harcourt following the government’s discovery that the people of the area disobeyed its warnings against large gatherings.
The affected areas known for their traffic congestion had since taken over by that the armed security operatives
The operatives used their patrol vans, used tyres and other heavy objects to create multiple checkpoints on the roads.
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About three Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) were also deployed at strategic places to block the restricted roads.
While some residents were flogged for violating the curfew, others were asked to sit for hours on mere ground.
Also, the operatives subjected some residents to other forms of punishments like frog jumps.
A soldier was seen chasing a group of residents, who tried to beat a checkpoint, with whips forcing them to go home.
Some of the residents appealed to the governor to relax the curfew to enable them survive the lockdown.
One of them, who identified himself as Martins, said the curfew had dealt a terrible blow on the residents of the affected area.
“We know the governor is trying to protect us. But we are appealing to him to consider relaxing the curfew. 24 hours of curfew is too much,” he said.
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