Kaduna residents groan as curfew bites hard

Some residents of Rigasa community in Kaduna, said on Tuesday that life has become extremely difficult for them since the imposition of a 24-hour curfew on the city by the Kaduna State Government.
The state government imposed the curfew on Sunday following violent clashes in the state capital.
Some of the residents said in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that they were finding it difficult to feed as they have run out of food stuffs.
Even local shop owners said they have run out of essential commodities including sachet water as markets remained shut.
A provision store owner, Sulaiman Dahir, stated that he had sold off all the rice, sachet water and recharge cards due to high demand, but was unable to restock due to the curfew.
He noted that people who usually buy and sell food items and other essential commodities at wholesale from the main market now buy from retailers in their communities.
Khadija Al-Hassan, a patent medicine store owner, also said she had run out of basic drugs and had to turn back customers patronising her.
“Even though the curfew is for our own good, for peace to reign, the government should endeavour to review the curfew in such a way that people can go out for their businesses for some hours “, she said.
Bilkisu Yusuf and Umar Faruk, both recharge card sellers, said they have been idle since Sunday when they sold up the cards in their possession.
“Customers have been asking for the cards, but it’s not available, some of them said they now use their neighbours’ cell phones to make calls, Faruk said.
He urged the state government to relax the curfew in view of the relative peace being enjoyed in most parts of the city.
NAN reports that the state government on Tuesday announced a 4-hour window from 1 pm to 5 pm, to allow residents restock on essentials, but said the curfew would continue afterwards.