Again, Imo, Enugu residents obey sit-at-home order

Urge stakeholders to resolve problem
Again, for the umpteenth time, scores of Imo residents in the 27 local councils of the state, yesterday, complied with the unofficial sit-at-home for “fear of unknown.”

Some residents, who spoke with The Guardian, said they were observing the unofficial order to run away from the hands of the unknown hoodlums that are hiding under the cover and allegedly hijacking the situation to kill and destroy property.

In Owerri, the state capital, banks, markets, schools and shops were closed by their operators. School children were at home playing football and other exercising activities on the streets nearer to their homes.

Fewer vehicles were sighted operating intra-city transport, but scared. Many roads were empty. Hawkers also deserted the streets.

Scores of the people, who spoke with The Guardian, called for amicable resolution of the problem, urging all stakeholders to congregate on the roundtable and resolve the imbroglio.

SIMILARLY, Enugu residents woke up to the normal sit-at-home order by Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to protest the continued detention of their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, by the State Security Services (SSS) and to demand his release.

IPOB’s Directorate of State had reportedly called off the protest in response to appeals by Igbo elders and leaders in the wake of last Saturday’s Anambra State governorship election.

Many had thought that the sit-at-home had ended only to see that Enugu State remained locked down yesterday. It was not clear whether it was the usual Ghost Monday or the continuation of the weeklong sit-at-home, which was to commence on November 5, but was suspended by IPOB last Thursday.

All the same, shops, motor parks, banks, markets, offices, courts, schools and filling stations, as well as restaurants, were all shut. The streets, major roads, high and expressways were bereft of the usual traffic.

There was a low-security patrol on the roads and streets with an armoured police vehicle moving solo. There have been no reports of any security breach by IPOB trying to enforce compliance.