Business activities resume in Mararaba amidst protest
Business activities resumed in Mararaba, Karu Local Government Areas of Nasarawa State amidst ongoing protests.
The correspondent, who monitored the area on Tuesday, said that business owners expressed joy over free movement and resumption of business activities.
The council had imposed curfew due to the Aug. 1 nationwide protest on #EndBadGovernance, which led to violence.
A shop owner in Maraba Market, Alhaji Aliyu Danladi, said he was happy that people could now move freely and peacefully in the area.
“I am happy that there is peaceful movement and people are going about their usual businesses without fear of hoodlums coming around.
“By this time last Thursday, I was scared because the whole of Mararaba even down to Nyanya and Masaka was a no go area due to violence that erupted during the protest.
“Though, I was in support of the protest initially thinking it was going to be peaceful and businesses would go on as usual, but things did not go as I envisaged,” he said.
Danladi said that he had stayed at home in the last four days due to fear of the unknown.
According to him, my family did not feed well because their source of feeding only comes from my daily sales.
Another businessman, Mr Onyeka Sunday, who sells cosmetics at “Heart Plaza” Mararaba said he was happy with the intervention of the military and curfew imposed.
He said if the protests had continued in Mararaba, there would have been uncountable deaths and not just loss of property.
He said, “I am thanking God for not losing anything, but just hunger for not opening my shop for four days, but my neighbour lost his phones and some goods.”
Similarly, Miss Abigail John, a hair stylist told NAN that she was displeased by the hijacking of the protest by hoodlums, adding that the protest was good and that residents responded well.
John advised the government to look beyond the crisis and chaos, caused by hoodlums and see how to resolve the demands of the masses, because people are really suffering.
A motorcyclist, Adamu Isiaka, who said he was glad that the residents of Mararaba did not continue the protest, said this had given him and his fellow colleagues courage to continue their businesses.
Isiaka said the military presence should still remain in Mararaba and Masaka axis in case of any unforeseen troubles.
However, Mrs Linda Jude, a civil servant, said she was never in support of the protest.
According to her, most protests in Nigeria are usually hijacked by hoodlums and bad boys.
“Look at how everything turned out. Protests are good and if well organised and carried out, will always pass the message, thereby yielding results.
“But, I am glad that people and motorists are moving peacefully now without obstruction and businesses are flourishing as people can sell and buy peacefully,” Jude added.
The banks were opened with few customers around the banking halls and ATM machines while schools that opened for summer lessons were seen with very few pupils in attendance.
