Following Simon Ekpa’s ultimatum of a two weeks total shutdown of the southeastern region in Nigeria as from 31 July, transport companies in Cross River State have revealed that they would probably not release their buses to ply that route.
According to the transporters, the decision was not only to protect their buses but the lives of passengers and their drivers as well.
This revelation had come after Finland-based Ekpa released a statement a few days ago calling for total compliance.
The sit-at-home civil disobedience is expected to begin on 31 July 2023 to 14 August 2023, to protest for the “unconditional release” of IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who is still being detained at the DSS dungeon.
In an interview, one of the officials of a transport company in Calabar, who gave his name as Orji Fabian, said due to the insecurity in the southeast, they have since reduced the numbers of their buses plying that axis, having suffered attacks in recent times.
Orji Fabian, an official in an undisclosed transport company had revealed that due to the insecurity in the region, passenger traffic has greatly reduced.
Fabian had further stated m that s kidnapping, armed robbery, fuel subsidy removal and resultant high cost of transport fares, had all combined scared away potential interstate travellers for the past two months.
Fabian had also remarked that their competitors had also been having the same experiences as a result of the hyperinflation.
Meanwhile, Echeng Echeng, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, for Zone 9 Umuahia, has stated that he was ready to fight the illegal sit-at-home orders in the South-East.
Additionally, the PRO of Police in Rivers State, Irene Ugbo, had commented that there was no need for people to fear as the security agencies were fully in charge of the situation, encouraging transporters to continue with their activities.
