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General News of Saturday, 29 May 2021

Source: www.mynigeria.com

IPOB's sit-at-home order grounds economic activities in Imo, Anambra

Nnamdi Kanu called on people from the South-east to sit at home between May 30 and May 31 Nnamdi Kanu called on people from the South-east to sit at home between May 30 and May 31

The sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has brought a halt to economic and social activities in Imo over fears of possible attacks.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria who monitored the development in Owerri, the state capital, residents of the state have deserted markets and streets of the state capital for safety.

Recall, the pro-Biafra group led by Nnamdi Kanu in a statement called on people from the South-east to sit at home between May 30 and May 31 in commemoration of the annual Biafra Remembrance Day.

The day is set aside by the group to remember the over 5 million Biafrans who died during the three-year civil war in Nigeria.

NAN reports that people also kept away from the Government House axis with businesses around it locked while a combined team of security agencies are seen patrolling the streets of the state capital.

A commercial motorist, Okechukwu Nnaji, told NAN that motorists started experiencing poor patronage from commuters from May 28.

“As I speak with you, I have not gotten N 2,000 since three days now, I normally make N8,000 daily.

“I don’t know how to feed my family if things do not improve soon,” he said.

A food vendor, Angela Eze popularly known as (Mama Africa) expressed worry that the situation might affect the economy of the state drastically.

She appealed to the government to use diplomacy and find a lasting solution to the problem.

Those who spoke to NAN said travellers were made to spend hours at the Bridgehead before crossing.

Those who managed or succeeded to cross over to Asaba and vice versa did so trekking or using commercial motorcycles.

A traveller, who pleaded anonymity, said he joined an early morning vehicle heading to Lagos but was delayed by the checkpoint mounted by the Police and Nigeria Army.

“I have spent more than three hours here trying to drive across the bridgehead. They said some gunmen killed five soldiers yesterday at Ihiala. I believe that this is why they are delaying us here,” the source said.

A private vehicle commercial driver, Kelechi Onwudiwe, alluded the intensified security checks to the sit-at-home directive by members of the proscribed IPOB.

“The traffic here in Onitsha is terrible. It is deliberately caused by soldiers who are searching for members of IPOB,” Mr Onwudiwe said.

In his reaction, the Police Public Relations Officer, Anambra Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, said the security check was a routine exercise.

Mr Ikenga said the checkpoint was part of strategies security agencies used to control and screen people coming and leaving the state.

“The check has been there before now even before the sit-at-home order. The purpose of the checkpoint is to screen road users, detect crime and maintain law and order.

“In as much as we are still analysing the security situation, the checkpoint is like an ordinary day exercise for us,” he said.

The Nigerian Civil War which occurred between July 1967 to January 1970 led to the massive loss of lives on both the side of federal forces and the Biafran army.