Economic and social activities have been paralyzed in Anambra State on Monday as residents deserted the streets in compliance with sit-at-home order issued by Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Movement for Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) to mark this year’s Biafra day anniversary.
Specifically, markets, banks, motor parks and other commercial places, including schools and government offices, were under lock and key.
The group said it declared a sit-at-home order on May 31 to remember more than five million Igbo people who died during three years of civil war between defunct Biafra and Nigeria.
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IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, said the usual date for the celebration, May 30, was changed to May 31 to allow churchgoers to go for service and take part in the remembrance day.
Meanwhile, contrary to information by Kanu that men of the security arm of the group, Eastern Security Network would be unleashed on the streets to enforce compliance to the order, some motorists attending to emergencies were seen driving along the road without molestation.
According to DailyPost, there was heavy deployment of a combined team of security personnel who moved round the town to ensure that no one was molested.
Anambra State Police Command had on Sunday assured that it would ensure that those who were willing to come out to carry out their businesses would not be molested by any person or group of persons.
Major markets in the state, including Onitsha main market, Eke Awka market and Nkwo Nnewi market, were all shut down, as at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, no incident of violence has so far been registered in the state as a result of the exercise.
An Awka resident, Ngozi Nwosu, told NAN;
I do not want to go anywhere and thank God that my children’s schools are on break. So, all of us are indoors to avoid problems.
Another resident, Ogochi Ezeike, stated that the leadership of Eke Awka Market, the major market in the state capital, would not open for business due to the IPOB order.
He said;
As you can see, everywhere is totally shut down, even if one is in the market who will buy from the person?.
Most shops at the popular Aroma junction, Awka, Zik’s Avenue, Unizik junction, and other popular places are also not open for business.
See other photos of empty roads and closed shops in Anambra state below;
