The sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, to protest the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, Director, Radio Biafra who has been in detention since October 10, last year and other pro-Biafra activists recorded partial compliance yesterday in some states in the South East of the country.
Anambra
Markets and some commercial banks remain closed as at 11am in Onitsha, while there was no movement of vehicles in the early hours of the morning. In Awka, however, banks and markets were open for customers. Government offices were also open and civil servants were on their duty post.
Some schools were also open, while students and pupils were asked to go home in others. Traffic was generally light in all the major cities in the state and movement was not restricted in any way.
In effect, some people chose to obey the order merely for the fear of the unknown and the expectation was that businesses would open later.
Abia
In Umuahia and Aba, normal commercial and social activities went on smoothly in defiance of the sit-at-home order. Banks, schools and other businesses opened for normal business activities. Banks, schools and other businesses opened for normal business activities with Keke operators who usually are the greatest sympathizers of the group going about their normal business.
However, police started patrolling the streets of Umuahia and Aba as early as 6am.
Enugu
In Enugu State, the sit-at-home order was partially complied with. Although markets, businesses, and banks, were open for daily activities, most schools,especially private schools shut their doors to teaching and learning.
Saturday Vanguard’’s visit to some private schools within Independent layout axis showed that the entrance gates were shut even as some of them had earlier sent text messages to parents,warning them not to bring their wards.
A parent,Mrs. Ifeoma Ogbodo brandished a text message received from one of the private schools at Liberty Estate, Independent Layout, Enugu which read:”Please,due to the threat of possible clash between MASSOB and security agencies,we will not open today.
” At the Ogbete main market, which is the biggest in Enugu, the usual beehive of activities was absent while very few cars plied the roads. At the Okpara Square,a detachment of Mobile Policemen numbering over 200 who had rehearsed crowd and combat techniques were still stationed there at the time of filing this report.
Policemen patrolled the streets in the early hours of the morning before some of them were dropped at strategic areas of the city. The policemen later dispersed following the heavy rain which started between 7.30 am and lasted for over two hours.
Imo
Also, in Imo State, the sit-at-home order was not observed in Owerri, the state capital. Saturday Vanguard’ visited the major streets in the metropolis and discovered that the people were going about their normal businesses. It was also observed that markets in the state were open for businesses just as artisans opened their shops and the keke operators were engaged in their daily businesses.
Banks, schools among others were also open, although, there were heavy security personnel positioned strategically in and around the city possibly to forestall any breakdown of law and order.
Ebonyi
In Ebonyi State, the sit-at-home order recorded total non-compliance as there were normal activities and vehicular movements across the State. Speaking to Saturday Vanguard from his base in Ebonyi Local Government area of the state, the state coordinator of IPOB, Mr Ugochukwu Nweke who was observing the sit-at-home order alongside other members of the group described the people of the state as myopic in the Biafra struggle.
“Ebonyi People are myopic but we the Indigenous People of Biafra are resolute, we cannot succumb to all manner of threats, intimidations and harassments by security agents and the Nigeria government. We are unstoppable and we cannot be discouraged by Ebonyi people who are not concerned about the Biafra cause, they have never behaved like Igbos”, he said.
When Saturday Vanguard’ visited some major markets and motor parks, normal activities were going on. Public and civil servants were also at their duty posts. There was however heavy police presence in strategic locations including the popular Nkaliki where MASSOB office is located as Policemen took over the area.
However, at Water Works and Ogoja roads, there was report of tear gas thrown by security agents to disperse some groups suspected to be members of IPOB and MASSOB in the state.
Asaba
Similarly in Delta State, residents of Asaba, and its environs defied the sit at home ordered. Our correspondent who drove round the state capital between 8am and 12 noon, observed that the police stationed one armoured carrier, 12 Hilux patrol pick ups with heavily armed mobile men at the Onitsha head bridge to stop IPOB members from moving into Asaba.
While other armed mobile and regular policemen were seen patrolling the major streets, others were stationed in strategic junctions to maintain peace and order. Government offices, banks, schools, markets and other business premises opened for normal businesses.
However, bank workers dressed casually to work perhaps to disguise while some shops in Ogbogonogo market and streets were under lock and key at press time. Also the ever busy Benin/Onitsha expressway, Nnebisi road, Summit road, Traffic Light, Cable Point and other streets were devoid of the usual heavy traffic flow.
Some parents who were afraid of the unknown, stopped their children and wards from going to school. As at the time of filing the report, the Asaba metropolis was calm and devoid of any violence.
MASSOB hails pro-Biafra groups for compliance
Meanwhile, MASSOB has hailed pro-Biafrans for complying with the sit-at-home order and demanded a civil disobedience against the Federal Government to press for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu and others.
A statement signed and made available to Saturday Vanguard’ by Uchenna Madu,MASSOB Leader read:”We gladly salute the people of Biafra for their love, confidence and trust bestowed on IPOB, MASSOB and other Biafra agitating groups, the effect of today’s civil disobedience further proved that MASSOB and IPOB are major factors to be reckoned with in the affairs of Ndigbo and Nigeria in general.
IPOB congratulates Biafra people
IPOB has also congratulated the people of Biafra, their friends and lovers of freedom all over the world for their support towards the successful sit- at- home order and successful protest for the release of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu as well as the restoration of Biafra.
IPOB in a statement signed by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, congratulated all those who were in solidarity with IPOB by obeying the sit- at- home order.
The statement stated that the, “protest took place in all the continents of the world, Europe, America, South America, Australia, some Asian and African countries. The countries where IPOB members observed the protest included the USA, Brazil, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, Israel, Germany, Finland, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Spain, Italy, UK, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Mexico, Malaysia, UAE, South Africa, Ghana, Senegal, Egypt, Gabon, Togo, Kenya, Australia, Sweden Denmark, and China, and other countries too numerous to mention.
“Here in Biafra land the protest took place in Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, Imo and Delta and we thank the general public for observing the day with us. Injustice can no more be encouraged. For showing us this kind of solidarity over the quest for the restoration of Biafra; we are most grateful. This is an assurance that people are in agreement with our zero tolerance for intimidation and harassment.”
Sit-at-home acceptable—CHEKWAS
Reacting to the order, founder of the United Progressives Party,UPP, and former presidential candidate,Chief Chekwas Okorie,told Saturday Vanguard during a telephone chat that,”the sit-at-home order and compliance are all within constitutionally approved methods of dissent or methods of pressing for the release of Kanu.
The compliance is based on moral persuasion and is non violent. Those who did not comply are without sanctions from anybody. Adopting these methods for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu are acceptable and constitutionally guaranteed”.
[VANGUARD]
