Residents of Madalla have been thrown into panic, following the 24 hour curfew imposed on the town by the Niger State Government.
The state government imposed a 24 hour curfew on the town after protests against the removal of fuel subsidy turned violent in the state.
Though a few shops were open for business in Madalla yesterday and people were seen moving around their immediate environments, there was little vehicular movement as the police had mounted road blocks at the major junction leading into the town from where they turned vehicles attempting to come in back.
LEADERSHIP gathered that people had been on their guard since the announcement of the curfew and that at any slightest suspicion of violence, residents were seen running without knowing what exactly the cause of the panic was.
“On Wednesday, even before we heard of the curfew, the police came and barricaded the road at the junction. People who didn’t know what was happening started running for their dear lives. You know nobody wants to die.” Bode Ajibaye, a resident told LEADERSHIP.
A rice seller at the Madalla Market, who simply identified himself as Azubike reported that there was panic at the market as people buying and selling had stated running but added that there was no actual reason for the panic.
“We were in the market when we saw people running. We ran but we didn’t know what happened. We just saw people running and followed suit. You know with the situation of things in the country, everyone is scared.”
The residents called on the government to resolve the problem of the removal of fuel subsidy and the security threat in the country so that people can start sleeping with their two eyes closed.