Oyigbo residents allege horror during 24-hour curfew

Two days after life returned to Oyigbo in Rivers State following the review of the curfew by the State Security Council, residents are counting their losses as they alleged that a pregnant woman died from complications and inability to access medical attention.

The residents, who spoke on Thursday on a radio programme on 92.3 Nigeria Info said no one could go out because of the 24-hour curfew imposed on the area and most of the hospitals did not work, adding that those hit by stray bullets could not access treatment, while residents on routine drugs skipped their dosages.

A female resident said, “The wife of one of our union members died. Due to the gunshots, the woman was afraid and became sick. When they took her to hospital, there was no doctor and the woman died with her eight-month pregnancy.

“Many people, who sustained gunshot injuries, were looking for hospitals to treat them, but they could not get any.”

Similarly, a male resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, narrated how the pregnant woman passed away, saying, “I saw the woman struggling, but there was no way we could help her because no pharmacy or hospital in the area opened.

“So, we asked neighbours if they had any drug. Some brought paracetamol. Some brought scent leaf and we squeezed the water out of it and gave to the woman. But it was like she had high blood pressure or something. So, she couldn’t make it.”

In a related development, a woman narrated how her nephew was shot dead by a soldier in the area, noting that the boy was escaping from a trouble spot with others when he was shot from the back.

She stated, “Since we travelled, I went to the market and I was told that my sister’s son was dead. The boy was running with others as soldiers were pursuing people and he was shot.

“We are begging Governor Nyesom Wike to help us. We don’t want soldiers in Oyigbo again, because we don’t know anything about what they said happened here and we are suffering. Please let the governor help us.”

Recall that the spokesman for the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Major Charles Ekeocha, had said the operation in Oyigbo was professional and targeted at criminals, elements who killed security operatives and stole their rifles.