At least 50 persons were arrested by personnel of the Rivers State Police Command on Tuesday following the enforcement of the curfew imposed on some areas by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.
Eyewitnesses said those arrested were people going about their normal businesses and were loaded into coaster buses and taken to the station.
This comes as the police last week advised various commands to avoid illegal and unnecessary arrests so as to curtail the spread of the dreaded coronavirus.
@GovWike The army stationed at education bus stop have gone rogue. Maltreating rivers people. Presently a man is rolling in a stagnant water, while being flogged.. pic.twitter.com/F8NPGWBcHc
— Adokiye Tariah (@osikiridaddy) April 1, 2020
I thought it was supposed to be a dusk till dawn curfew, but Rivers State, specifically Choba is locked down. pic.twitter.com/VhWP55xCpD
— MAGNIFIQUE (@rarecambion) April 1, 2020
At the education bus stop along Ikwerre road, soldiers were seen manhandling residents who came out to look for what to eat.
Wike had imposed a dusk to dawn curfew on Obiri-Ikwerre Junction( Ozuoba, Rumualogu) to Choba and from Education Bus Stop to Agip Junction.
In a Broadcast on Monday, he said that the State Security Council reached the decision after it monitored compliance with the State Government’s directive.
He said: “With effect from Tuesday, March 31, 2020, there will be a dusk to dawn curfew from Obiri-Ikwerre Junction( Ozuoba, Rumualogu) to Choba and from Education Bus Stop to Agip Junction, Ikwerre Road.
” All beer parlours and public drinking joints are hereby closed because they have suddenly become an extension of night clubs that were earlier shut down.
“Any beer parlour or public drinking joint found to be open shall be acquired by the State Government.
“All landlords are advised to warn their tenants who use their property as beer parlours or public drinking joints to adhere to this directive.
“Traditional Rulers, Youth Leaders and Community Development Committees are to ensure that beer parlours and public drinking joints in their areas remain closed. ”
The Rivers State Governor charged Traditional Rulers, Youth Leaders and Community Development Committees to ensure that all beer Parlours remain closed.
He added:” Any Traditional Ruler who allows markets to be open in his domain will be deposed.
“Government is investigating the illegal operation of markets at night at Woji and Elelenwo Communities. Further violation by residents of these two communities will attract the declaration of curfew.”
Governor Wike said further violation of the directive for markets to remain closed will attract a state-wide curfew.
The Rivers State Governor announced waivers to different categories of persons in view of the directive of the State Government.
They include Medical and Pharmaceutical Personnel, Food and Beverages, Essential Oil and Gas Staff, Petroleum Products and Media Workers and Newspaper Distributors. All these categories of staff must identify themselves with valid identity cards.
