IPOB sit-at-home: Police allay fears in Imo

• Enugu govt, COSEYL frown at group’s plot to disrupt WAEC exams
• Vows to sanction absentee workers

Imo State Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, and the Enugu State government have directed residents to ignore the May 30 sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in commemoration of the 57th memorial of the Biafra War and its fallen heroes.

The Imo Police Commissioner reassured residents of adequate security, urging them to go about their lawful businesses without any fear of molestation or attack.

The Police boss gave the assurance while leading his personnel and men of other security agencies on a confidence-building patrol and operation show of force across the 27 councils of the state to ensure public safety.

He urged the people to disregard the proposed unlawful three-day sit-at-home order imposed by the outlawed IPOB, and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN), across the five South East states.

Danjuma said: “The Command, in synergy with other security agencies, has put in place adequate security measures to evade any threat of attack by any insurgent group.”

Also, the Command’s spokesman, ASP Henry Okoye, in a statement made available to newsmen, disclosed that “security operatives, drawn from the police, military, civil defence, road safety, immigration and fire service have been massively deployed to guarantee public safety within the period.

“The Command is, therefore, using this medium to warn anybody intending to destabilise the improved peace and security in the state by attempting to enforce the illegal sit-at-home order to better have a rethink, as anyone caught in the act will be made to face the full wrath of the law.”
On its part, the Enugu State government has directed workers to report for duties, warning of dire consequences for failure to do so.

IPOB had ordered the closure of schools, markets, businesses, offices, and restriction of movements, urging residents “to light up candles and pray in their homes during the period.” They also promised sanctions against those who may try to defile the order.

To underscore its seriousness, the group had specifically warned the West African Examination Council (WAEC), which scheduled mathematics examination today and the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), which had scheduled its convocation ceremony today, to seek new dates to avoid regrets.

In response to the call, the Enugu State government, yesterday, asked workers to report for duties today. It stated that there is no public holiday or sit-at-home in the state, assuring adequate security of life and property.

Also, the Enugu State government and the Coalition of Southeast Youth Leaders (COSEYL), yesterday, expressed displeasure over what it described as an attempt to scuttle the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination in the state today by promoters of Biafra, saying that doing so is the height of insensitivity.

The state made this known in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Aka Eze Aka, yesterday, urging candidates and those involved in the conduct of the examination and other enterprises to go about their legitimate businesses, as the state had taken steps to ensure adequate security of life and property.