August 11, (THEWILL) – Operators of restaurants, recreational centres and Fast food eateries in Ehime Mbano communities are lamenting over the low patronage of their businesses as a result of insecurity.
THEWILL recalls that hoodlums had attacked a major axis within the council area and killed many people on the spot.
Narrating his ordeal, an operator of a recreational centre in Umuezeala, the headquarters of Ehime Mbano Local Government Area, Mr Jude Odom, expressed sadness over customers’ declining patronage of his business.
“I used to make a huge amount of money daily, but since the killings by the bandits started bedevilling this state, all my customers have gone. Aba branch was home to over 6 recreational centres. Now, some have shut down because of this problem.”
A staff of one of the major hotels, located along Aba branch-Anara road, in Ehime Mbano who pleaded anonymity, said that (70) rooms of the hotel were fully occupied by guests and regretted, that since the attacks by hoodlums started, they had been servicing only ten(10) to fifteen (15) rooms.
She lamented the setback they had experienced and, therefore, pleaded with the government to take the right steps to address the security challenges that, according to her, gradually crippling businesses in Ehime Mbano, Obowo, Ihitte-Uboma, Onuimo and some communities in Okigwe Local Government areas of the State.
“Before, our hotel would be filled, We used to even feed other hotels when fully booked, but sadly, since these attacks began patronages have dropped. You can imagine that even today, Friday, we have only nine (9) guests. People are now afraid to patronise us”, she said.
A commercial motorcyclist from the Umualumaku community, who also does not want his name mentioned in print, also stated that hoodlums have been terrorising the area at every time of the day, saying that they operate unhindered without any security operatives confronting them.
“We are no longer safe these days. Social activities do not take place as before. Our brothers and sisters stopped coming because they were afraid of the unknown.”
