Asaba — ALTHOUGH the commercial city of Onitsha in Anambra State is now calm following the recent mayhem and the subsequent deployment of military personnel to restore sanity vehicular traffic on the Niger Bridge which connects the city to some other parts of the country has been on the increase as soldiers now search vehicles entering the city.

A drive round the town yesterday showed that commercial activities had picked up, but some residents and visitors remained scared.

At the Onitsha end of the bridge, soldiers dressed in camouflage were seen conducting search on vehicles, especially on commercial buses. Private vehicles were not left out.

The search resulted in a heavy traffic build up stretching almost to the Asaba end of the bridge. At Upper Iweka, a passenger travelling to Lagos who gave her name as Sister Ngozi told Vanguard: "I hope this vehicle (luxury bus) will get filled up, let me leave this town because what we are seeing is grave yard silence."

Investigation also showed that movement of commuters especially traders travelling from Asaba to Onitsha has reduced considerably as only few commercial buses were seen plying the route. Most of the drivers interviewed said they tactically withdrew their vehicles until the area (Onitsha) was completely calm.

Meanwhile, the Delta State police command said it had put in place enough security proof to check any infiltration of the MASSOB members. State Public Relations Officer, Miss Olabisi Okuwobi, told Vanguard yesterday: "We are aware that many prisoners were released during the riot from neighbouring Onitsha, but I can assure you the command has enough surveillance men to fish out any of them who may try to seek new haven in Asaba. Also, I must reiterate that the command is fully ready to deal with any one who wants to prosecute MASSOB agenda here in Delta . You know they (MASSOB) lost the battle here in Delta long ago, so they cannot try it again," she said.