Local Food dealers in Awka, Anambra have expressed worry over the rigid enforcement by security operatives at Amansea, a border community between Enugu and Anambra states.

Some of the dealers made their feelings known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria at Amansea, Awka North Local Government Area, Anambra on Thursday.

Mrs. Amaka Ezeji,  a  dealer on garri, palm oil and vegetables said she normally traveled very early in the morning to Ezeagu in Enugu State to buy foodstuffs for resale in Awka.

“After buying the products since the inception of the restriction of movement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on getting to the border, security operatives will allow us to cross, but in the past two days now, they insisted that no vehicle should pass.

“This situation has caused colossal losses to food dealers and we are appealing to both state and federal authorities to look into the matter,” she said.

Ezeji said she might be forced to discontinue the movement, noting, ” I decided to venture into the venture after my son told me that food dealers were exempted from the lockdown order by the government”.

Another food dealer, Mrs. Ngozi Obiekezie, who deals on plantain and banana, said that her goods were stocked at Amansea since Wednesday morning.

“I am in serious pain as we speak because the products I have are very perishable and if I am not able to cross this place today, my capital will be in great danger,” she said.

NAN reports that scores of comunters from Enugu were sighted trekking into Amansea in Anambra likewise those from Anambra walking into Ugwuoba area.

However, none of these travelers were checked by the security operatives to ascertain their health status vis-a-vis the motive for checking the spread of coronavirus.

A commuter, who gave his name as Innocent Igwe, said they had been stranded at  Amansea and Ugwuoba for more than eight hours.

Igwe said the closure of border should be enforced with some level of civility, noting that some people might have emergency situation that warranted their movement.
Ekene Ubani, another commuter, expressed disappiontment over the border closure, saying he already paid for his journey to Enugu.

“I paid  N700 from Onitsha to Enugu only for the journey to be terminated here and I do not have additional money to continue my movement.

The duo appealed to relevant authorities to intervene on the situation, adding that it would be nice if medical team are stationed at the border to test people and allow them to continue their journey.

 

NAN