In response to growing clamour by concerned stakeholders, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has lifted the three months old night-time curfew in Bonny Local Government Area of the State.

According to a terse statement by the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim, issued 9PM on Friday, October 9, 2020, the lifting of the curfew takes immediate effect.

“The Rivers State Government has lifted the curfew imposed on Bonny Local Government Area with immediate effect.”

The statement advised to security agencies in the state, especially, those in Bonny LGA, to take note of the directive and ensure compliance.

“Security Agencies are hereby advised to take note of the directive and act accordingly.”

Wike had on July 10, 2020 imposed a night-time curfew from 8pm to 6am in Bonny LGA three days after lifting the lockdown on the area, which according to him, was necessitated by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in the area.

Curiously, no other local government area was placed under lockdown or curfew within the period under review despite the fact that the Rivers State, Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) had continuously updated the statistics showing widespread incidences of Covid-19 in all 23 LGAs.

Residents have since complained of the shutdown of the economy of the area due to the curfew as local businesses which leverage the evening periods to source for patronage of their commodities could not do so.

In response to the widespread discontent over the negative impact of the curfew, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Ibani Clan and the Bonny Improvement Association (BIA), Port Harcourt Branch, called on the State Chief Executive to lift the curfew.

Kristina Reports checks reveal that there was wild jubilation across different parts of Bonny LGA in the wake of the announcement earlier this night.