Soludo declares curfew in 7 Anambra LGAs over IPOB atrocities

The Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, on Wednesday declared a curfew in seven local government areas of the state over the increasing atrocities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The governor, who announced this in a statewide broadcast, listed the affected LGAs as Aguata, Ihiala, Ekwusigo, Nnewi North, Nnewi South, Orumba North, and Orumba South.

He said the curfew which would take effect from Thursday was aimed at restoring normalcy in the areas affected.

Suspected IPOB members had last Sunday killed 11 people including a pregnant woman and her four children at Isulo community in Orumba North LGA.

The incident came just 24 hours after the criminals beheaded a member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Okechukwu Okoye.

Soludo said: “With effect from tomorrow, Friday, 26th May, 2022, a 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. curfew is hereby placed on motorcycles (okada), tricycles (Keke), and shuttle buses in Aguata, Ihiala, Ekwusigo, Nnewi North, Nnewi South, Ogbaru, Orumba North and Orumba South Local Governments until further notice.

“Also, motorcycles, Keke, and shuttle buses are banned from operating in these local governments on Mondays until the Sit-at-Home completely stops.”

“The youths of every community in the zone are hereby enjoined to assist the security agencies in the implementation of this policy and are mandated to seize any such motorcycle or tricycle on the spot.

“Local Vigilantes should report such motorcycles or tricycles (keke) immediately, and they will be confiscated by the government and the owner prosecuted.

“The Okada, Keke, and shuttle bus union leaders must take responsibility to report their members who are involved in criminal activities. We shall review this after two weeks, and if members of these unions continue to be involved in criminal activities, the government will have no choice but to either disband the Unions and/or ban them outrightly in the state.”