Yesterday’s sit-at-home order issued by Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to mark the alleged invasion of the home of IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu during the Operation Python Dance II in Umuahia, Abia State and the continuous arrest and killing of IPOB members, recorded success in many parts of Igboland. The order fully paralysed economic and social activities for the greater part of the day Onitsha, Aba and Owerri and Nnewi where reports say the order fully paralysed, in other parts of South East zone, it was a different ball game.
While in places like Enugu there was a little lull in the morning before activities picked up midday, in other places like Abakiliki, Awka, Nsukka, people went about their normal businesses.
In Onitsha, all the markets, streets shops, banks and schools were shut down. The ever busy old motor spare parts market, Ugwuagba Obosi, Building Materials International Market, Ogidi, Old and New Motor Spare Markets, Nkpor, and Nkpor Main market all remained close
Though roadside and street traders selling food items opened for business, schools within these areas remained deserted as some teachers that went to school didn’t see any pupil or students to teach and they had to hurriedly return home. The popular Upper Iweka and Lagos park were also deserted while banks remained closed.
People who have important appointments to keep took to trekking as commercial buses refused to operate. Most traders who stayed at home engaged in drinking . Security agents in trucks were seen patrolling major roads while unconfirmed reports indicated that some sympathizers of the pro-Biafra group who wanted to use bonfires to block the road, early in the morning, were dispersed by security agents.
A market security man who gave his name as Ejike said that the market was open for business based on the government directive that every market, schools should be opened but regretted that traders shunned business activities. A trader Mr. Obiora Nwede said he obeyed the sit-at- home order on his own volition, not because he is an IPOB member, but because people of South East have been turned into slaves, due to high level of marginalization and intimidation by the government in power.
A leader of the joint security patrol team who declined to give his name said they arrested two hoodlums robbing passersby at Marine area of Onitsha while reporting a robbery incident by another set of hoodlums at Ochanja market. The security outfit mounted a checkpoint at Onitsha bridgehead to forestall any breakdown of law and order by the IPOB members.
In Nnewi, Nkwo Nnewi market entrance gates were open, although shops were closed. Some of the traders were seen sitting in groups around their shops discussing Nigerian politics and other issues of their choice. In the early hours, some banks and other offices including schools were open but some were closed. Some students who went to school in the morning later returned before noon while a combined team of the police, army, Director of State Services (DSS), Civil Defence and local vigilance groups were busy patrolling the length and breath of Nnewi communities.
In Awka, while transporters operated unhindered throughout the day and many shops at the Eke Awka main market, banks and schools in the capital city were shut for fear of what might happen.
Some parents who took their wards to school were reportedly sent back.
Bank customers resorted to using Automated Teller Machine (ATM) services in the absence of alternate banking services. The Anambra State secretariat provided skeletal services as many of its workers stayed away from work for fear of the unknown. Those of them who went to work did so at about 9am after they had monitored the situation
“Abia, Imo, Anambra, Rivers recorded total compliance Delta, Bayelsa, Enugu and Ebonyi recorded 85% compliance with Enugu capital city and Abakaliki witnessing skeletal human presence, most of which are government staff,”
Kudos to the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra IPOB.
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