By Ayo Kehinde
The 24-hour curfew imposed by Governor Nasri el-Rufai to calm frayed nerves and restore peace to the capital city of Kaduna where violence erupted on Sunday and claimed 55 lives, officially, has disrupted social and economic lives of residents.
Many of the residents, are complained of the empty shops, unavailability of foodstuffs to buy and the heightened insecurity from anxiety caused by the all-day curfew. A cross section of residents who spoke with NAN expressed shock and frustration over the rising of the crisis and the lockdown of the capital city caused by the curfew
Some of them said that they were finding it difficult to survive as they have run out of foodstuffs. Others are finding it hard to go to work or move out to keep any appointment within and outside the city
Even local shop owners said they have run out of essential commodities including sachet water as markets remained shut.
A shop owner, Sulaiman Dahir, stated that he had sold all the rice, sachet water and recharge cards due to high demand, but was unable to restock due to the curfew.
He noted that people who usually buy and sell food items and other essential commodities at wholesale from the main market now buy from retailers in their communities.
Khadija Al-Hassan, a patent medicine store owner, also said she had run out of basic drugs and had to turn back customers patronising her.
“Even though the curfew is for our own good, for peace to reign, the government should endeavour to review the curfew in such a way that people can go out for their businesses for some hours “, she said.
Bilkisu Yusuf and Umar Faruk, both recharge card sellers, said they have been idle since Sunday when they sold the cards in their possession.
“Customers have been asking for the cards, but it’s not available, some of them said they now use their neighbours’ cell phones to make calls, Faruk said.
Mallam Abdullahi Mohammed, a staff at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture Abuja, told NAN that he was forced to remain indoors in Kaduna since “police are patrolling our area”.
“This crisis and the attendant curfew have disrupted my plans. I wanted to get to Abuja by 9 a.m. but now I have to review my plans to accommodate buying enough foodstuffs for my family.”
Security agents have virtually taken over strategic areas of the highways and areas mostly hit by the crisis.
Malam Ado Abdulmalik, a politician heading to Abuja, was miffed at the way he was treated by the police, saying that, “those security men would not even listen if you have an emergency.
“I could not even go to railway station, few metres from my house, to board it to Abuja because police are patrolling everywhere.”
Martha Ayuba, a housewife said: “There are no business activities going on as they cannot buy food ingredients.
“This is an unfortunate situation as preparation was not made for the curfew. I hope the curfew does not last for another 24 hours because all shops are closed and one cannot buy what he needs.
“We prayed for calm and peace to be restored in the state because in situations like this, people need each other and not violence.
Mrs Jummai Bako, a businesswoman said the curfew has affected her because she earns her daily bread selling foodstuffs.
“I can’t go out to sell my foodstuffs in the shop because of the curfew.
“I have fresh tomatoes and pepper in the shop that if I don’t sell them, I will lose.
Also some civil servants lamented the imposition of curfew adding that most workers were yet to receive their salaries, so they were unprepared and had not done their monthly stockpiling of food stuff.
NAN reports the usual Monday market where most residents converge to buy foodstuffs was deserted.
The residents demanded the arrest of those behind the attacks that claimed many lives in Karuwan Magani, describing the imposition of the curfew as an unpleasant situation.
“We will continue to plead with everyone especially our youths to conduct themselves within the provisions of the law, and to not to engage in acts that will disrupt the peace of the state,”
Meanwhile, many parts of the town as areas such as Sabo, Barnawa, Narayi, Malali, Central market area and Unguwar Muazu are still tense. The governor had been forced to imposed the all-day curfew because despite appeal for calm and the draft of policemen to troubled spots, the violence spilled out into Sabo and Maraban Rido, heavily populated areas.
Even with heavy security presence on affected areas, many of the perpetrators of the killings are still undeterred, seeking vengeance.
The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has asked the governor to keep the curfew going until tempers calm down and there is visible proof of cessation of hostility among the warring parties of religious fanatics.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives on Tuesday urged the security agencies to maintain law and order and directed the National Emergency Management Agency to attend to displaced persons in the troubled city
