Groups lament impact of sit-at-home in South East, seek intervention

A civil rights group, Voice of Accountability and Progress (VOAP), has expressed concerns over the frequent and unrestrained sit-at-home in the South East, lamenting that the region was losing its economy to other parts of the country.

Also, Enugu-based Centre for Victims of Extrajudicial Killing and Torture (CVEKT AFRICA), has asked governors and leaders of the region to intervene and end the continuous sit-at-home disturbances in the interest of the zone.

In a statement issued in Enugu by its Coordinator, James Ogochukwu Igwe, the VOAP said the unrestrained sit-at-home directive, which began since the detention of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, had continued to take a huge toll on the South East economy and well being of Ndigbo.

He stated that investigations indicated that most businesses in Onitsha and Nnewi in Anambra State were relocating to Asaba, Delta State, while those in Aba now fancy Akwa Ibom and Cross River or River states.

Igwe disclosed that the South East region had continued to witness high rate of migration of its active work force to other zones, adding that the situation of the region had been compounded by banditry, kidnappings and killings with a porous security and infrastructure network.

“Time has come for those who love the South East region to save its economy. The way things are going, unless there is an urgent intervention, the zone might be completely overrun. People no longer plan, because nobody is sure of the next minute.

On its part, CVERT in a statement by its Executive Director, Reverend Tony Amarube, decried enforcers of the sit-at-home by those masquerading as members of IPOB, stressing that it was no longer funny, as life had become unbearable in the region.

It therefore, charged governors of the South East to assert their constitutional powers and obligation to defend the life and property of citizens and residents of the region.