Abia relaxes curfew period to 6 hours

[From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia]

The dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed on Abia in the wake of the violent attacks by unknown gunmen on formations and personnel of security agencies in the state has been reviewed from 10 p.m to 12 a.m.

The curfew period will now run from eight to six hours across the state.

Abia Government, through the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Chris Ezem, late Wednesday night, explained that relaxation of the curfew followed improved security situation in the state.

The three-paragraph statement stressed that the new curfew regime takes effect from today, Thursday, urging residents to continue to remain vigilant.

 “Following marked improvements in the security situation of the State and surrounding ones, Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has approved the relaxation and adjustment of subsisting curfews across the state as follows:  Aba and Umuahia: 12 mid-night to 6 a.m daily and Ohafia, Bende, Umunneochi and Arochukwu local government areas: 12 mid-night to 6 a.m daily.

 “Government appreciates the support and cooperation of citizens which have led to the improvements of security in the State and wishes to advise that everyone remains vigilant and report any suspicious movements or activities to the relevant security agents who are to also ensure strict compliance with the new curfew regimes which take effect from Thursday, 22nd July, 2021,” the statement read.

This is the third curfew regime in the state since it was first announced on April 5, 2021 sequel to the deadly attacks on Owerri Correctional Centre in nearby Imo State, as well as the headquarters of that state’s Police Command, the previous night.

The curfew only affected residents of Aba and Umuahia and was scheduled to begin from 10 p.m to 6 a.m.

The next day, after a Security Council meeting, the curfew was reviewed to start from 8 p.m to 6 a.m and was extended to Ohafia and Arochukwu.

However, since the perpetrators of the deadly attacks sustained their heinous trade, the Governor on May 11, 2021, extended the subsisting curfew to Bende and Umunneochi local governments.

While residents of Aba and Umuahia observed the curfew regime of  8 p.m to 6 a.m,  people living in Arochukwu, Bende, Ohafia, and Umunneochi, observed the curfew from 6 p.m to 6 a.m daily.

More than two months after the introduction of the curfew, the State government announced a two-hour relaxation of the 10-hour curfew that subsisted in some parts of the state since April 6, 2021.

Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, had in a statement of Wednesday, June 16, 2021, announced a new curfew regime which would now start from 10 p.m to 6 a.m, with effect from Friday, June 18, 2021, instead of the usual 8 p.m to 6 a.m daily in Umuahia and Aba.

Okiyi added that the new curfew regime would now commence from 8 p.m to 60 a.m in  Arochukwu, Bende, Ohafia and Umunneochi l.ocal government areas, as opposed to the previous 6 p.m to 6a.m.

Okiyi also attributed the review of the curfew to improved security. However, the relaxation was largely perceived as swift response by government to the outcries of residents, hoteliers and club owners who had decried the toll the curfew was taking on their means of livelihood.

That curfew regime is the one being relaxed after about a month it came into force.