Edo State will be under a 24-hour curfew until further notice beginning from 4pm, October 19, 2020, the Godwin Obaseki-led government confirms.
According to a press statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie, on Monday, schools and businesses will also be affected.
The government also advised parents to “rein in their children, youths and wards, to forestall further breakdown of law and order.”
The statement read in part, “This decision has become necessary because of the very disturbing incidents of vandalism and attacks on private individuals and institutions by hoodlums in the guise of #ENDSARS protesters.
“While the government of Edo State respects the rights of its citizens to undertake legitimate protests, it cannot sit idly when hoodlums have taken laws into their hands to cause mayhem on innocent citizens and the state.
“By the directive, schools and businesses are to shut down activities accordingly. Those who cannot move safely are to stay put between now and 4pm till calmness is restored.
“Parents are advised to rein in their children, youths and wards, to forestall further breakdown of law and order.
“The responsibility of government is to protect lives and property and maintain law and order, therefore, anyone found outside in violation of the curfew would be dealt with according to the law.”
It would be recalled that hoodlums, pretending to be protesters, on Monday broke into the Benin Custodial Centre at Sapele Road, Benin freeing inmates.
The hoodlums’ action on Monday at the facility, popularly called “White House’’ saw many prisoners escaping, though the number could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report.
It took the efforts of the prison’s armed guards to quell the riots while some prisoners who fled the centre were caught.
Benin metropolis was on total lockdown as banks, private and government-owned schools were under lock and key following continuous youth protests.
A correspondent who monitored the protest reports that all the major roads leading to the city centre were all blocked by the protesting youths.
Some of the youth were seen chanting solidarity songs and playing football, while others were busy cooking on the road.
Mr Osagie Obamogie, one of the protesters who spoke with newsmen said: “We are tired of the hardship, no sector of the economy is working and we can no longer continue like this.
“I graduated since 2012 with no job in sight. I managed to open a barbershop and there is no adequate electricity supply to run it properly.
“They have increased fuel and increased electricity tariff. Everything is on the high side. We are no longer protesting only # EndSARS, it has metamorphosed into End bad government”.