Ahamefula Ogbu
23 December 2007
Port Harcourt — Following the breakdown of law and order in Okrika, a riverine surburb in Rivers State, where militants had recently bombed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the State Governor, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, has imposed a dusk to dawn curfew, starting from 6pm to 6am with effect from last Friday.
The curfew is coming on the heels of the suspension of hostilities by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND, of all forms of hostilities against the Federal Government, oil companies and their workers for 24 hours in celebration of Christmas.
However, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Magnus Abe, in a statement, said the imposition of the curfew was to restore law and order in the area, which it said the Joint Task Force (JTF) has been mandated to enforce.
The state government has also extended the fight against cultism to royal fathers, who Amaechi has asked to join the fight against the menace, which impedes development and destroys peace in the state.
He said during the quarterly meeting with traditional rulers that their support was crucial since and that if they check the menace from their various domains, there will be no hiding place for miscreants in the entire state.
According to Amaechi, who was represented in the parley by his deputy, Engr Tele Ikuru, "If a gentleman like Professor Nimi Briggs can be kidnapped, we should look back and wonder if any of us is safe. Unless you as royal fathers and unless we as a people stand up and fight against criminal elements, the rate at which it's going, none of us will be safe."
Responding, the Chai-rman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, the Ogba of Ogbaland, His Eminence, Chukwuemeka Nnam Obi II regretted the kidnap of innocent people and pleaded with the government to impose stiffer penalties to deter the hoodlums.
In the statement by MEND's leader, Gbomo Jomo, said, "Effective 12 midnight, December 25, 2007, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) will observe a 24-hour ceasefire in the spirit of Christmas. Cessation of hostilities and kidnapping of oil expatriates can be guaranteed during this time frame".
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Impossing dusk to dawn curfew in okrika in a bid to have security is laughable. The hoodlums that carry out such neferous activities are close to the seat of power. Government has not been sincere in their fight against cultism. It is rather unfortunate that it is innocent people that are paying the ultimate price of torture, arrest, maiming and killing. Goverment should stop the pretence and come up clean in this regard. How many lives are in bitterness and agony because of direct and indirect support of these despicable group of cultists. Government know how to put an end to this whole ill-motivated political agenda.
Security matters should,nt be waited upon till problem arose befor government trying to send task force to control or curfew!Security problem in a society like Nigeria should be looked upon on daily bases,If the Government of a country can not control his people then is people will control the Government.Let us face the reality of our daily problems,Every situation or problem has a solution but if only we are determine to solve and find solution.Curfew is not the solution to all this attack.the government should think strategically and see the problems afar and in a wide range. Fredrick.