Cross River government has imposed a 24-hour curfew in the state.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Special Adviser to Governor Professor Ben Ayade on Media and Publicity, Christian Ita, the curfew takes immediate effect.
The development, he noted, followed the hijacking of the peaceful protest against police brutality in the state by hoodlums.
While advising residents of the state to observe the curfew, Ita warned that security agents have been mandated to arrest anybody who flouts it.
Meanwhile, residents of Calabar in Cross Rivers have discovered a COVID-19 palliative warehouse in the town.
In a video sighted by LailasNews, people could be seen carting away with food relief materials, and a voice could be heard in the background saying the people of Calabar just discovered the COVID-19 palliative warehouse.
Many COVID-19 palliatives warehouses have been looted across with country, with Lagos and Osun state being highlights.
COVID-19 palliatives was discovered in a warehouses located on the premises of Cocoa Processing Industrial, Ede, Osun State before being looted.
A warehouse at Maza Maza community in Oriade Local Council Development Area, Lagos State, was also looted.
Reacting to the development in a statement by Gawat Jubril A, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor of Lagos State on New Media, the palliatives were donated by the Private Sector Coalition against COVID-19 (CACOVID) group, and was set to be distributed if not for the EndSARS protest.
See the statement below: “Lagos State Government has today condemned the vandalization of the warehouse at Mazamaza housing the food palliative packages donated to the State government by the Private Sector Coalition against COVID-19 (CACOVID) group.
The State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu had on September 22nd 2020 formally taken receipt of the food palliatives from the CACOVID team meant for distribution to the indigent.
The government notes that the warehouse in question is not State owned and its usage was made available to the CaCOVID group. The State Government had been allowed to commence rebagging of food items allotted to it from the quantities meant for South West States.
“The rebagging was being done to account for each beneficiary receipt, as was required and monitored by the CACOVID team.
“The distribution was on-going but had to be halted due to protests, before the invasion of the warehouse today.
“For effective distribution of the food palliatives, groups such as Transport Unions, Ethnic Groups, Religious Associations, Artisans and Tradesmen Association, Market men and Women Association, People Living with Disabilities, Orphanages and Old Peoples’ Homes among others were being used as distribution channels to their members.
“The State Government, however, regrets the invasion of the warehouse and appreciate the support offered by the CACOVID group to the citizenry of Lagos.”