lockdown: Market women, others dare Imo govt over fresh COVID-19 measures
Some market men and women in Imo State have vowed not to obey the fresh lockdown ordered by the government.
The new lockdown is expected to take effect from Monday, 29 as directed by the governor, Hope Uzodinma, to stop further spread of coronavirus in the state.
Some of the traders at the local markets on Sunday indicated their indignation and preparedness to resist the fresh lockdown directives issued by the Imo State government.
Chiaka Ihuoma, a petty trader at Amakohia Modern Market in Owerri, insisted that the government should allow them to sell their wares and provide for their families as they have no other means of livelihood.
She added that the government has not done enough in providing palliatives to the people within this period of lockdown and appealed that they be allowed to fend for their families.
A butcher in the same Amakohia Modern Market who pleaded anonymity said that the COVID-19 cases in the state were not real but politicized.
According to him, the government is feeding fat from the situation, insisting that there is no coronavirus in Imo State.
He dared the task force to get close to his table and see what would happen.
“What is the government trying to achieve by this unnecessary lockdown? Do they want hunger to kill all of us? We heard that they have been sharing palliatives, but none of us has received even one cube of maggi from them. They take the relief materials and share them to their various families. These people are wicked! Let them allow us or we shall take the laws into our own hands,” he said.
Linus Anyanwu, a bicycle rider at Nkwor-orji market, described COVID-19 cases in Imo State and Nigeria as a large scam allegedly perpetrated by the government to siphon money. He said the government should be bold to tell the people the truth.
“Since the news of coronavirus in the state, we have not seen even in pictures the carriers of this virus nor seen the dead bodies where they are being buried.
We are wiser now, government should stop playing on our intelligence. Mounting another lockdown in the state won’t work because the people are angry. No food, no money, no palliatives and you are asking people to stay at home,” he said.
Olumma Onwuka who deals on beverages at Hadel Junction, Owerri advised the government to allow the people to go about their businesses since they are now aware of how to protect themselves from contracting the virus.
She said the task force should concentrate more on checking people who are not wearing face masks and not maintaining social distancing especially at social gatherings.
Although, she admitted that the virus is real, she however appealed that the people be allowed to go about with their normal businesses and still follow the rules of regular washing of hands and use of face masks because, according to her, the virus has come to stay.
Governor Uzodinma had in a recent broadcast to the people of the state expressed dissatisfaction over the violation of the safety measures against COVID-19 by the people and renewed the measures with effect from Monday, 29.
In the broadcast, food markets and pharmaceuticals are exempted from the lockdown markets for other items including schools are to remain closed.
The governor also charged security agents in the state to strictly monitor people’s activities and arrest those violating the rules for prosecution by various mobile courts in the state.
COVID-19 cases in Imo State exceeded 290 as at the weekend.
Signaturetv.org/Daily Trust
