By Edeki Igafe
Normal business activities were ongoing on Thursday in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta and its environs devoid of protest.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent, who monitored the situation, reports that the protest was not held in the Warri metropolis and environs.
NAN reports that shops were opened for businesses, private and commercial vehicles were also on the roads while people moved from one place to the other unhindered.
Armed security personnel comprising, the Nigeria Police, Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were at strategic locations to quell a possible breakdown of law and order.
Addressing newsmen, the Nigeria Police, Warri Area Commander, ACP Graham Imade, urged residents to go about their legitimate businesses without fear.
Imade said that the police was out to boost the confidence of the people and ensure that there was peace across the Warri metropolis and environs.
“We are here to ensure there is peace. We are all aware that there are peaceful protests across the country.
“I am personally on ground at the Effurun Roundabout, which is designated as the major place for the protest. We are also going round the entire Warri city.
“For now, Warri is peaceful. We have also done Police deployment to ensure there is no breakdown of law and order throughout the period of the protest and beyond.
“My advice to the people is that they should go about their normal businesses as we are here to give them confidence and ensure there is peace in the entire Warri,” Imade said.
Also, the Commanding Officer, 3 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Effurun, Maj. Augustine Ohegbe and his men were fully on ground to monitor the situation.
The Nigerian Army also flew drones and patrolled the entire Warri and environs to ensure there was peace and residents went about their normal businesses.
On his part, Mr Kelvin Ejimudo, the Public Relations Officer of the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights (CDHR), Delta Chapter, thanked the youth for listening to the voice of reasoning and shelved the protest.
“It is not a win for the government but for the people. Is for the government to go back to the drawing board and do the needful.
“The inflation rate is affecting everybody. Very soon children will resume schools.
“This is the time for government to invite stakeholders and discuss how to resolve the economic hardship,” he said.
NAN reports that some of the locations the security personnel stationed were: the Enerhen Junction, Airport Junction, Jakpa Junction, PTI Junction, DSC Roundabout, Effurun Roundabout and the Estate Roundabout.
Meanwhile, some commercial banks on the stretch of the Warri/Effurun/Sapele Road offered skeletal services, though with their gates locked over fear of being attacked.
However, there were pockets of protest within the Amukpe Roundabout by the Sapele/Benin Expressway in Sapele Local Government Area.
The protest did not extend to Sapele main town as residents went about their legitimate businesses amid low vehicular movements.
Also Ughelli town was calm and people went about their normal businesses. (NAN)
