Commercial activities in most parts of the South East states were grounded, yesterday, in continuation of the sit-at-home directive by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, over the incarceration of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kalu.
Despite the success of the weekly directive, IPOB, yesterday, denied declaring a sit-at-home exercise for October 21 and 22 in any part of Igbo land.
In Aba, Abia State, schools, banks, markets, and other business centres did not open. Major roads such as Azikiwe, Faulks, Ngwa, Aba-Owerri, Obohia, Ohanku, Ikot Ekpene Road, and Aba main motor park, among others, were deserted.
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Combined teams of soldiers and police officers were observed patrolling major areas of the city.
The directive also recorded total compliance as the streets and roads were completely deserted in Umuahia.
Human and vehicular traffic was very limited although there were occasional movements of tricycles and vehicles. Students and pupils stayed at home as schools did not open for studies.
Most private schools had before the weekend, reportedly communicated to their students and pupils that they would not open for Monday and Tuesday. Banks also did not open to customers while only few street shops opened for business.
A police convoy comprising an Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC, and patrol vans with two SUVs suspected to be that of the Commissioner of Police were observed patrolling some major streets.
However, The city was generally peaceful as no incident of violence was reported anywhere.
Owerri
In Owerri, Imo State, our correspondent observed that streets were deserted as early as from 6 am. Shops, banks, eateries, Relief and Eke Ukwu markets were all shut.
There were no vehicular movements even transport companies located along Egbu road in Owerri, did not open for business.
Also, tension went up, when a viral video circulated on the social media showed that Okigwe council area of Imo State, had been attacked and over five vehicles set ablaze.
However, this was dismissed by the Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, who said: “The Imo State Police Command is issuing this statement in response to a recent viral video showing vehicles set ablaze by individuals affiliated with IPOB/ESN enforcing an unlawful sit-at-home order in Okigwe on 21/10/2024.
“The command confirms that this video is misleading; the incident depicted actually occurred in 2022. Its recirculation is a calculated attempt by mischief makers to instill unnecessary fear and anxiety in the state.”
IPOB Denies Involvement
Meanwhile, IPOB has denied giving orders for any sit-at-home and urged people to ignore what it described as obnoxious order from criminals working for government to demonize IPOB.
IPOB’s media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said Biafrans should understand that IPOB doesn’t force people to stay home without cause.
He said: ”IPOB did not order for two days sit at home and we don’t want to talk about it and we don’t want to create panic from inconsequential fellows. We didn’t want to write a press statement towards inconsequential order from infiltrators.”
