COVID-19: Aba residents urge stringent boundary checks to curb spread

April 21, 2020

By Ijendu Iheaka

Aba residents have expressed shock and apprehension over the report of two confirmed index cases of Coronavirus in Abia, calling on government to act urgently to curb further spread.

The residents who spoke to our Correspondent in Aba said government’s COVID-19 task force and security agencies should be made to function appropriately so as not to waste the lockdown effort.

Mrs Comfort Micheal, a resident said Abia’s index cases report had instilled fear and anger in the residents.

She said they had been praying and following lockdown rules to remain indoors since three weeks to ensure it did not enter the state.

“We heard about the reported confirmation of Coronavirus in Abia state and we are not happy about this report because it means that we have stayed at home for three weeks now in vain.

“We are fearful about this development because if nothing is done about the free movement of people in Abia which is the root cause of this, it will be hard to contain the spread of this thing.

“I think people are moving about freely because the task forces are not doing their jobs the way they should do it which is the reason the disease has entered Abia.

“Our people should be made to know that something is happening because they are feeling that nothing is happening”, she said.

Christian Isinguzo, said they heard last Sunday that one person having the disease was last seen at 153 Azikiwe road and that made them more jittery.

He said “everyone is crying and praying that this should not come in here but unfortunately, government is not helping our people and so it has come now.

“If they had shared palliatives, I am sure they would not see people on the road unnecessarily, but they are not doing so that is why many are hungry and on the road.

He urged government to lock up Abia boundaries properly in order to stop the spread from other states.

Chris Ogbonna another resident, said Abia leaders should show the people when the persons were moved and the facility they are in to clear doubts.

He urged government to locked boundaries, and conduct tests there, but open the markets so that people can move and get things to eat.