Ovedhe Hezekiah – Warri
Women and youths in Sapele, Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State on Wednesday 15th 2020, protested the extension of the lockdown order by the State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa.
The protesting women and youths numbering over hundreds marched through major streets of Sapele chanting solidarity.
The protesters said they are hungry and their businesses have crumbled without any hope to get food to eat.
The protesters however said their anger is that the state governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, announced an extension of the lockdown without providing food items to them.
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One of the protesters, Oritsemeyiwa who spoke with our correspondent, said the government is very insensitive to the plights of its people.
Oritsemeyiwa, an unemployed youth further added that, since the lockdown started, he has been going round begging to survive.
“As it is now, I have no money anywhere. How to survive for the next 14 days is what I am thinking about.”
Another protester, Onome a Keke driver, in a chatted in pidgin English with our correspondent, said he has four children and has no money to give them food.
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“Bros, as I dey here dey talk to you, no food for my house and I get four children with my wife. No money and I nor fit do keke work again.”
This reporter gathered that, the peaceful protest was hijacked by hoodlums who burnt tyres along Okpe road just as they allegedly attack and maim residents of the area.
Photo of the protest.
It took the intervention of policemen who swung into action, shot teargas canister into the air to disperse the peaceful protesters and the hoodlums.
When contacted, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Hafiz Inuwa confirmed the protest in a telephone chat with this reporter saying, “They have been dispersed.”
It would be recalled that, the State Governor, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa on Tuesday announced an extension of the Lockdown with 14 days with an assurance that food items would soon be shared to Deltans without delay.
