Lockdown: Bauchi residents engage in panic-buying

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FILE PHOTO: Abakaliki traders lament low Christmas patronage.

FILE PHOTO: Bauchi residents engage in panic-buying over lockdown order.

Bauchi residents are rushing to stock food items and other essential products barely some hours to the total lockdown of the state.

The state government announced that effective Thursday night, movement into and out of the state would be restricted for two weeks as part of measures to check the spread of coronavirus.

The state has so far recorded three cases, with the state governor, Bala Mohammed, one of those infected.

A reporter who visited some popular business centres on Wednesday observed heavy traffic, with people rushing to buy food items.

A visit to the popular Wunti, Muda Lawal and the Bauchi central markets located in the heart of the city indicated that thousands of residents were engaged in panic-buying of essential commodities preparatory to the scheduled date for the lockdown.

Alhaji Musa Yaro, a customer at the Muda Lawal market, said that he was at the market to procure all the needed foodstuff and other consumables for his family, sequel to the lockdown notice.

He described the coronavirus pandemic as a serious calamity capable of exterminating the human race if urgent measures were not taken to address the menace.

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Malam Aminu Shehu, another customer at the popular Wunti market, said he was at the market to make some purchases for his 24 family members to sustain them during the lockdown.

He however, commended the Bauchi state government for taking proactive measure aimed at curtailing the spread of the dreaded coronavirus pandemic.

Mrs Janet Emmanuel, a trader who deals in foodstuff at the Bauchi central market, said that she was experiencing a boom in sales as the lockdown hour approached.

She said in spite of the notice, prices of foodstuffs had remained stable with the exception of the price of palm and groundnut oil that rose slightly.

At the Awala and Muda Lawal motor parks passengers were boarding vehicles to their hometowns for fear of being trapped by the lockdown order.

Idris Mohammed, a passenger onboard a Plateau-bound vehicle, said that he was on his way to deliver foodstuff to his family who were resident in Jos, to avoid them being starved.

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