By Babatunde Ayedoju

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It is a common practice for people, irrespective of age and gender, to unwind after a long and stressful day or week. This they do by exploring various options. One of the options is to go to bars or night clubs, to unwind stress the body has accumulated. After all, there is an adage that says, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”. “Who wants to be dull or who wants to remain dull?” One might ask.
It is a common sight in bars and clubs in Akure for a man to come with a lady who is most likely his girlfriend or wife. A lot of eating, drinking, music and dancing take place in such places and people tend to be there till the morning. Lives of innocent night crawlers have been terminated by criminal minded elements at odd hours and some of their cars stolen at gun point.
Therefore, anybody who has been following the trend of events in Ondo State recently will realise that things are no longer the way they used to be, security wise. There have been reported cases of armed robbery, kidnapping and banditry in the state.
The recent was the Ilara Mokin bank robbery incident where three people were killed by armed robbers.
Again, therefore instances of these dastardly acts where two night guards and a petroleum attendant at AA RANO and FARBAS filling stations in the state capital were killed.
To curb this ugly trend, Ondo state government had, in the past, taken several measures such as establishing the Western Nigerian Security network, also known as Amotekun Corps. It had placed a ban on the movement of commercial motorcycles that are otherwise known as Okada after 6pm. It has equally taken steps to checkmate the activities of suspected anti-state actors by ordering illegal occupants of government forests to leave and also placing a ban on underage and night grazing, all efforts to rid to the state of miscreants.
Recently, the State Government ordered all night clubs, pubs and public bars in the state not to operate beyond midnight.
According to a statement signed by the State’s Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Donald Ojogo, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu noted with deep concern, the rising cases of insecurity in the State, especially the capital, Akure.”
Government “Specifically, these noticeable cases are traceable to the activities of cult groups and ancillary circumstances. Further to this, Night Clubs and their late hour activities have heightened this ugly situation. Most importantly, such locations along major roads in the State capital are most culpable. This is abhorrent, without doubt”. The government spokesman insisted that activities of cultists, as well as criminals hiding under commercial motorcycle operations, posed a great danger to the lives and property of the citizenry.
“In the light of the foregoing, the Government wishes to reiterate its ban on late hour activities of Night Clubs, Pubs and Public Bars. Succinctly, any violation of this ban from 12 midnight onwards shall be met with a commensurate action by relevant authorities.
“For emphasis, no night club, pub or public bar must operate beyond midnight, starting from Thursday July 8, 2021.”
The government further charged parents and guardians to rein in their wards, saying all security agencies including Amotekun Corps have been directed to address the ugly trend, adding that perpetrators would be brought to book.
This was confirmed by the way the regional security network, known as Amotekun Corps, seized 40 cars from various night clubs in the state capital few days later. The 40 vehicles reportedly belonged to people who were caught violating the state government’s directive.
The Hope was out to speak with some of clubs and bars owners, to feel their pulse on the order made by the state government.
According to Odunayo Olumoyo, manager of a Restaurant in Alagbaka, Akure, the move by the State government was a welcome development and it is in the interest of the citizens. Her words: “It is good. After all, it is for our own security. Actually, we don’t do business till midnight here. It is the owners of night clubs who operate till that time of the night and this is a bar.”
Speaking with The Hope, the manager of one of the well known hotels in Alagbaka, who pleaded anonymity, said, “It is a welcome development. We are law abiding people in this establishment. We are aware of the directive from the state government and we complied immediately we heard about it.”
The manager of another hotel who also did not want his name in print said, “It is a welcome development. We believe that the decision was taken in the interest of the masses and for the benefit of all. Though it’s a bit tough on us, we have complied with the directive, knowing that the decision was taken in the best interest of members of the public.
The manager further expressed hope that the security situation in the state would improve, so that the decision could be reviewed as soon as possible.
While lauding the State government’s action, a former Head of Mass Communication Department, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO), Dr. Rahman Abubakri, said, “The government ought to fix the ban at 11 pm, instead of 12 midnight. There is no reason why a responsible person should be partying till 12 midnight. Such amounts to indiscipline and immorality.”
The media scholar who said that banning night clubs is a measure to check criminality added, “You know most of the criminals would stay in night clubs to consume alcohol and smoke weeds together with other substances with the intention of waiting till around 1 am when they feel they are free to attack their targets.