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Sit-at-Home Order Cripples Southeast Economy

...IPOB Denies Responsibility

Published

Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 03:10 PM

Written by Omotola Adeleke

Sit-at-Home Order Cripples Southeast Economy

In Nigeria's Southeast, many areas saw a complete stop to commercial activities on Monday and Tuesday as the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) upheld their sit-at-home order in protest of the detention of their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

Although the weekly directive has been successful, IPOB denied yesterday that it had called for a sit-at-home exercise on October 21 and 22 in any area of Igbo land.

It was initially reported that IPOB announced the two-day sit-at-home to hoist the Biafra flag in the region and demand the release of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, currently detained at a Department of State Services (DSS) facility.

In Umuahia, our correspondent who monitored the situation reported that businesses, including banks, petrol stations, and restaurants, remained closed, and motor parks had no passengers. A handful of commercial drivers who ventured out expressed concerns about the lack of passengers. Major roads such as Azikiwe Road, School Road, Ikot Ekpene Road, Aba Road, Uzuakoli Road, Bende Road, and Bank Road appeared deserted, with only a few people and vehicles present.

In Aba, Abia State, schools, banks, markets, and other businesses remained closed. Major roads, including Azikiwe, Faulks, Ngwa, Aba-Owerri, Obohia, Ohanku, Ikot Ekpene, and the main motor park were left deserted.

Combined patrols of soldiers and police were seen in key areas of the city. The directive saw full compliance, with streets in Umuahia also completely empty.

Human and vehicular traffic was minimal, with only occasional tricycles and vehicles seen. Students stayed home as schools were closed; many private institutions had informed students prior to the weekend that they wouldn’t open on Monday and Tuesday. Banks also remained shut, and only a few street shops conducted business.

A police convoy, featuring an Armoured Personnel Carrier and patrol vans, along with two SUVs believed to belong to the Commissioner of Police, was noted patrolling major streets. Overall, the city was peaceful, with no reports of violence.

In Owerri, Imo State, our correspondent noted that the streets were empty as early as 6 a.m. Shops, banks, restaurants, and both Relief and Eke Ukwu markets were all closed.

There were no vehicles on the road, as transport companies along Egbu Road in Owerri remained closed.

Tension escalated when a viral video surfaced on social media, showing an attack in the Okigwe council area of Imo State, where over five vehicles were reportedly set on fire.

However, this was refuted by Henry Okoye, the Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, who stated: “The Imo State Police Command is addressing a recent viral video that shows vehicles burning, allegedly by individuals linked to IPOB/ESN enforcing an illegal sit-at-home order in Okigwe on October 21, 2024.

“The command clarifies that this video is misleading; the incident it depicts actually took place in 2022. Its resurgence is a deliberate effort by troublemakers to create unwarranted fear and anxiety in the state.”

In the meantime, IPOB has denied issuing any sit-at-home orders and urged the public to disregard what it termed a malicious directive from criminals attempting to tarnish its image.

Emma Powerful, the Media and Publicity Secretary for IPOB, emphasized that the organization does not compel anyone to stay home without justification.

He stated, "IPOB did not call for a two-day sit-at-home, and we prefer not to discuss it further to avoid inciting panic from irrelevant individuals. We do not intend to issue a press statement regarding this baseless order from infiltrators."

Edited By: Chinedu Eze

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Sit-at-Home Order Cripples Southeast Economy

In Nigeria's Southeast, many areas saw a complete stop to commercial activities on Monday and Tuesday as the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) upheld their sit-at-home order in protest of the detention of their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

Although the weekly directive has been successful, IPOB denied yesterday that it had called for a sit-at-home exercise on October 21 and 22 in any area of Igbo land.

It was initially reported that IPOB announced the two-day sit-at-home to hoist the Biafra flag in the region and demand the release of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, currently detained at a Department of State Services (DSS) facility.

In Aba, Abia State, schools, banks, markets, and other businesses remained closed. Major roads, including Azikiwe, Faulks, Ngwa, Aba-Owerri, Obohia, Ohanku, Ikot Ekpene, and the main motor park were left deserted.

Combined patrols of soldiers and police were seen in key areas of the city. The directive saw full compliance, with streets in Umuahia also completely empty.

A police convoy, featuring an Armoured Personnel Carrier and patrol vans, along with two SUVs believed to belong to the Commissioner of Police, was noted patrolling major streets. Overall, the city was peaceful, with no reports of violence.

In Owerri, Imo State, our correspondent noted that the streets were empty as early as 6 a.m. Shops, banks, restaurants, and both Relief and Eke Ukwu markets were all closed.

There were no vehicles on the road, as transport companies along Egbu Road in Owerri remained closed.

Tension escalated when a viral video surfaced on social media, showing an attack in the Okigwe council area of Imo State, where over five vehicles were reportedly set on fire.

“The command clarifies that this video is misleading; the incident it depicts actually took place in 2022. Its resurgence is a deliberate effort by troublemakers to create unwarranted fear and anxiety in the state.”

In the meantime, IPOB has denied issuing any sit-at-home orders and urged the public to disregard what it termed a malicious directive from criminals attempting to tarnish its image.

Emma Powerful, the Media and Publicity Secretary for IPOB, emphasized that the organization does not compel anyone to stay home without justification.

He stated, "IPOB did not call for a two-day sit-at-home, and we prefer not to discuss it further to avoid inciting panic from irrelevant individuals. We do not intend to issue a press statement regarding this baseless order from infiltrators."

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