Enugu gov to shut schools, markets obeying ‘sit-at-home’ Monday

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has threatened to close schools, markets and transport units that failed to open for business and academic activities on Monday henceforth.

The governor issued the threat in a Public Service Announcement made available to journalists on Saturday night, adding that the directive was a sequel to his recent ban/cancellation of Mondays’ sit-at-home in all nooks and crannies of the state starting from Monday, June 5, 2023.

The statement partly read, “This is to inform all schools, markets, retail outlets, hospitals, transporters, malls and the general members of the public that, in view of the recent ban/cancellation of Mondays’ sit-at-home by the Government of Enugu State, in all nooks and crannies of the state, they have been directed to go about their normal businesses and activities every day of the week, including Mondays.

“The above-mentioned bodies and others alike are required to comply with the directive as adequate security measures have been taken to guarantee their safety.

“Members of the government’s task force will be moving around to monitor compliance. Any market, transport outlet, or any other body that fails to open for business risks being shut down immediately.”

Meanwhile, the Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Ammani, has ordered Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, Commanders of PMF Squadron Bases, and other Tactical and Operational Units of the Command, to deploy personnel and all the operational and intelligence resources at their disposal to actualize the declaration, by ensuring maximum public security and safety of citizens and their property in the state.

The Commissioner in a statement issued through the Command’s Spokesperson, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, titled, “End to illegal sit-at-home: Enugu CP orders adequate deployment of policing resources and perfecting of strategies already devised,” appealed for the cooperation of the citizens to ensure the success of the directive of the governor.

Ammani, however, warned miscreants and troublemakers that the Command would not spare anyone in whatever name that would try to cause trouble in the state.

The statement reads, “Sequel to the declaration of the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah, putting an end to the illegal Sit-at-home order in the state, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Ammani, further directs all units and formations to ensure that the strategies already devised to reverse the ugly trend are implemented to the letter, warning that lapses on their parts shall not be tolerated.

“The Commissioner notes that innocent and law-abiding citizens of the State deserve to go about their lawful businesses without fear of harassment or physical threats by unscrupulous and subversive criminal elements, enforcing the illegal Sit-at-home order.

“Hence, he tasks the Supervisory Officers and personnel under them to live up to expectations, by ensuring that every part of the state is visibly patrolled and necessary policing actions taken to forestall possible adverse activities of the undesirable criminal elements.

“CP Ammani reiterates that the operations to end the illegal Sit-at-home order will be jointly executed by the Police, the Military, and other Security Agencies in the state.

“Therefore, he warns unrepentant and subversive criminal elements, known to have in recent times murdered fellow brothers and sisters, destroyed their property and disrupted the social and economic well-being of their people without conscience, in the name of enforcing the inconceivable illegal sit-at-home order, to turn over a new leaf, as the Security Forces shall not spare any person or individuals found wanting.

“The CP, therefore, enjoins citizens of the state to cooperate with the Police and the Joint Security Forces, while remaining law-abiding and vigilant as they fully begin to go about their lawful businesses on Mondays, like every other work day.

“He urges them to promptly report criminals and their activities on such days and beyond to the nearest Police Station or call the Command’s emergency hotlines on 08032003702, 08075380883, 08086671202 or 08098880172 for necessary policing actions.”