From Nnena Kalu, Umuahia and Ada Nebolise, Awka
Despite stern warnings and threats of heavy sanctions against civil servants by governors of southeastern states against obeying the sit-at-home order issues by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) that its Monday sit-at-home order is sacrosanct, many citizens stayed at home.
IPOB in a statement on Sunday by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said the protest which will commence from 6:00 am and ends at 6:00 pm will be enforced peacefully.
According to Powerful, “We the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu wish to remind all Biafrans and friends of Biafran that the Monday sit-at-home order is sacrosanct. The entire Biafra land will be locked down every Monday from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm beginning from tomorrow, August 9, 2021until our leader, Nnamdi Kanu who was abducted in Kenya and brought back to Nigeria and locked up in DSS dungeon in clear violation of international laws is freed.
“Consequently, there will be no movement throughout Biafra land on Mondays until our leader who is suffering for our freedom is released. This protest is peaceful but firm. Everybody is advised to stay indoors in total compliance.
“All markets, schools, motor parks, airports, and public places in Biafra land should shut down from morning to evening every Monday. We understand the economic implications of this measure but we are constrained to take it so that the world will know that our Leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not alone in the struggle for Biafra autonomy.”
Reports from the field monitored by THISAGE correspondents showed that the sit-at-home order recorded total compliance across the southeast on Monday.
In Abia state where the Commissioner for Information, Chief Okiyi Kalu told. “law abiding citizens and visitors to go about their normal businesses without fear of molestation,” saying that adequate security had been provided to ensure the safety of lives and property in all parts of the state, however mellowed its statement that it would not compel anyone wishing to sit at home for any reason whatsoever not to do so.
Kalu pointed out that “as citizens have freedom of movement under the extant Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we wish to strongly advice that nobody should also compel or enforce any sit at home order from any non-state actor”.
He said that “doing so will does not serve any known interests of the people of the state”.
The commissioner stated that government was “actively monitoring the situation with Kanu, who is an indigene of the state, currently undergoing trial at a Federal High Court in Abuja”.
“We remain in touch with his family members, other relevant persons and institutions, and receive regular updates through them on the situation.
“The Abia Government is confident that the judiciary will ensure a free and manifestly fair trial for him and others.”
The sit-at-home order recorded a total compliance in Abia State, Nnamdi Kanu’s home state. In Umuahia, the state capital, the order recorded a high level of compliance as many shop owners did not open for business.
Also, commercial banks, private schools and other cooperate service providers did not open shops.
Markets and motor parks were also deserted. According to one trader, closing shop for a day to fight injustice in Nigeria would not make him poor.
“Markets were closed for many months last year because of COVID-19 and we survived it, so I don’t see how closing my shop for one day will kill me.
“All we are saying is that the Federal Government should release Nnamdi Kanu because he didn’t commit any crime by asking for the freedom of Biafrans”, he said.
ANAMBRA:
The Anambra state government threatened not to pay August salary to any worker who abstained from duty in obedience to the sit-at-home directives by IPOB.
The government, in a a circular issued by the Head Of Service (HOS), Harry Udu, said workers who failed to show up for duty would be penalized.
The circular directed Commissioners and permanent secretaries to monitor the situation and report accordingly.
The announcement read in part, “The Government of Anambra State has directed that all workers in the state must attend to their duties on Monday 9th August 2021.
“Failure to do so will result in severe sanctions including loss of salary for the month of August.
“All Hon. Commissioners and Permanent Secretaries are to monitor and report compliance, please.
” Kindly give this information the widest publicity in your Establishment.”
In Anambra State, there was total compliance in Nnewi and Onitsha areas of the state as banks, shops and markets were under lock.
Two persons were allegedly killed while three buses were also set ablaze by suspected IPOB members, who were allegedly Enforcing the sit-at-home order.
“They were singing and shouting: ‘today is Sit-at-home. Anything sighted, even if it’s a fly must be destroyed. There were gunshots around Izuchukwu Park junction around 6 am.
“We couldn’t believe our eyes when we came out to see two lifeless bodies of young men. Yet, nobody could explain who was responsible”, a resident said.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ikenga Tochukwu, confirmed the incident.
He said, “I can confirm to you that there was an incident in Nnewi roundabout, police operatives are currently there but details are still sketchy. Further information will be communicated please.”
Governor David Umahi had directed residents of Ebonyi State to ignore the sit-at-home order issued by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)
Umahi in a statement signed by his Special Assistant (SA) on Media and Publicity, Francis Nwaze, emphasized that Monday remained a working day across the State, adding that “Markets, banks, schools, etc, will operate normally,” adding that, “Ebonyi State Government is presently doing everything possible to develop the state across all sectors – education, security, health, agriculture, human capital development, infrastructure, and so on, it is inconsequential to draw the state backward through temporary deactivation of her economic activities in the guise of a sit at home order.
“The youths and members of the public are seriously advised to desist from engaging in any activities that are capable of breaking down of law as it resultant effect is dwindling of the economy of the state.
“To this end, Security Agencies in the state are by this announcement directed to maintain law and order and ensure that all law-abiding citizens go about their duties unmolested.”
Reports from the state however showed that except for civil servants who reported for work at the Secretariat, many citizens obeyed the IPOB order.
In the state, there were reports of sporadic shooting on Monday morning at Ugwuachara Community of Ebonyi Local Government Area, causing panic and chaos in the area.
Commercial banks located on the axis of Ogoja road and Afikpo road did not open but their Automated Teller Machines, ATM were dispensing cash to customers.
Some shops opened for businesses in the capital city with both human and vehicular movements though not as it used to be before the sit-at-home was declared by IPOB.
Many filling stations in the capital city didn’t open for businesses while very few others opened.
Civil servants, however defied the sit-at-home order as offices at Ochudo City Secretariat and old government house, Abakaliki, were busy.
In Enugu State, commercial activities were grounded in the state capital as residents deserted its streets and roads with commercial banks, schools, shops, malls, were all shut down. There was no vehicular movement in the state metropolis.
All business activities were shut down, all markets were under lock and key, public and private secondary and primary schools were shut down, government offices and banks were also not opened for businesses, petrol and gas filling stations were closed down as streets totally deserted.
IMO:
in Imo state, a passenger was reportedly burnt alive in Nkwogu, Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area when the peoples obedience to the sit-at home order turned bloody on Monday. Commercial activities were grounded in most parts of the state as residents stay away from all commercial and public activities as citizens obeyed the order.
The buses were said to be coming from Umuahia, Abia State capital, when they ran into a group of suspected members of IPOB, who shot at the tyres, forcing the buses to stop.
The passengers of the buses ran for their lives, while one of the drivers was reportedly shot on the hip.
The passenger, who was killed, could not escape before the bus was burnt down.
Schools were also shut while students sitting for NECO examination were reportedly prevented from taking their exams.
