The 24-hour curfew imposed on Gombe metropolis due to the Friday bomb attack? has started having telling effects on some households.
Some bread-winners who spoke with newsmen on telephone, said that food and other essential commodities in their homes had depleted.
“There is little food left in my house now and unless the curfew is relaxed today, myself and my family will have nothing to eat,” said Umaru Jallam,a father of four.
Alhaji Gimba Lawan, another resident said: “We just boil the yam with salt and add palm oil. That is all. No other ingredients at all. This experience is terrible.”
Madam Ramatu Mela, a divorcee with three children, who frys bean-cake for survival, said that she was at a loss on what to do.
“The bomb took us unawares and so I had to leave where I was frying the bean-cake in a state of confusion.
“I left everything there, including my frying pan, only for 24-hour curfew to be imposed. I virtually have nothing to feed my three children”, she said.
?Bello Malluma, another resident, said that although he had enough food items as at Friday night, little of it was left as at today (Sunday).
“I had enough food in my house but we had to assist neighbours who had none. Eventually, I may likely find myself in the same situation.''
?The residents have, therefore, urged the authorities to relax the curfew to prevent starvation.
“I cannot remember the last time we had 24-hour curfew imposed here.''
“We are only used to curfew from dusk-to-dawn. To worsen the situation, the 24-hour curfew was unexpected, so we never prepared for it at all”, said Kabiru Ali, one of the residents who called for a relaxation of the curfew.
?NAN also observed that some shylock traders selling essential commodities from their homes had capitalised on the situation to make brisk business.
Such traders had increased the prices of their commodities by between 100 and 200 per cent.?