Coronavirus: Public places in Osun deserted as COVID-19 lockdown continues [Photos]

Following the total lockdown ordered by the state government to prevent the spread of coronavirus among its people, shops, major markets and many prominent places in Osun have been placed under locks and keys.

Naijaparry News regional reporter in Osun state, reports that the government had directed that all the schools including the higher institutions of learning, shops, markets and places of worship should be locked.

The government also said that all the gathering of more than twenty people should be suspended and social distancing of two metres was recommended.

A popular Ota Efun road in Osogbo, the capital of Osun state is deserted over the lockdown by the government.

Vehicular movements to and from the state were also suspended as the movements within the state are strictly restricted except for those that are extremely necessary were also forbidden.

To achieve total compliance by the people, the security personnel were drafted to the boundaries of Osun with other states such as Oyo and Ondo states as well as the cities and rural areas within the state.

An investigation by Naijaparry News across the state to evaluate the level of compliance of the people with government directives revealed mixed reactions from the residents.

Speaking with Naijaparry News on the lockdown, one of the security personnel at Asejire, simply identified as Olabisi, the border town between Osun and Oyo states, said he and his colleagues ensured total compliance of the directive.

Olabisi, who is an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps ( NSDC) said: “We are very diligent and professional here. We don’t allow any entrance or exit except those among the exempted ones by the authority. At least, you can feel the tranquility and serenity everywhere. No vehicular movement from either side of the boundary.”

It was observed that the atmosphere at the popular Obada market in Irewole local government was conspicuously different as every shop was under locks and keys with neither vehicle nor bike on the roads.

Some of the areas visited in Ikire by Naijaparry News included Sango, Iyana Ègba, Popo, and Ayedaade were deadly silent with one or two people surfacing occasionally.

A resident of the Iyana Egba area of the town, Bakare, said people were trying to comply with the government’s directive, adding that they were suffering from hunger occasioned by the lockdown.

He said: “People are managing to comply with the government directives. You can see that every road is vacant and the shops are padlocked. I said ‘managing’ because hunger is gradually setting in. The government should not chase the people to the wall. Meaningful and reasonable palliatives should be provided. You cannot keep the people indoors forever.”

A similar trend in all the communities along the road from Ikire to Osogbo, the state capital was observed as security personnel were situated at various checkpoints.

Some areas visited in Osogbo included the state secretariat, Ogo-Oluwa, Olaiya junction, Ayetoro Stadium road, Igbona, Agunbelewo among others.

A resident of Ogo-Oluwa, Alabi Dayo, said: “There’s total compliance with government order here, perhaps, because this is the state capital. People are indoors and only come out occasionally and when they do, social distancing is duly observed.

“My major concerns are those that do daily jobs and the poor, they are the hardest hit. The government should as a matter of urgency support them with sustainable palliatives. Otherwise, people may be forced to revolt and I pray it doesn’t lead to anarchy and chaos.”

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