Security heightens over IPOB’s sit-at-home order

Ahead of the two-day sit-at-home order declared by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) beginning today, security agencies have commenced confidence-building patrols known as ‘Show of Force’ ready to confront the Biafra separatist group in the five states of the South-East.

The police have reacted to a viral video calling for a two-day sit-at-home in the South-East region of Imo, Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi and Anambra states. Also, security agencies in Abia have increased their presence across major city centres and suburban areas ahead of the sit-at-home order.

IPOB, through its Eastern Security Network (ESN), had declared today and tomorrow sit-at-home, forcing all residents in the South-East to stay at their residences, close their shops, schools, banks and other business outlets, spanning today and tomorrow, in solidarity towards realising Biafra nation.

On social media platforms, the group threatened to deal ruthlessly with violators. Following the viral video, some schools in Enugu, last Friday, asked their students not to be at school today and tomorrow. But in a statement, spokesperson for Imo State Police Command, Henry Okoye, advised Imo residents to go about their businesses, assuring them of their safety by the combined patrols of police, armed forces and sister security agencies in the state.

Also, the police in Enugu asked residents to ignore the order to sit-at-home. The statement signed by Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Daniel Ndukwe, described the unidentified fellow’s advice as baseless.

He stated that the CP, Kanayo Uzuegbu, had described the reasons for the sit-at-home as “unwarranted and a deliberate attempt to incite fear and unrest in the state.”

It was gathered that security agencies in Aba repelled members of the IPOB, who had attempted to come into the city centre on Friday to cause fear among visitors and residents; they tried to create awareness of their planned sit-at-home as they used to do, but were resisted by the security agencies who had manned various flash spots.

The Enugu State Government has also dismissed the illegal sit-at-home order by faceless persons, noting that the state had since gone past that era. The government, therefore, directed citizens to go about their lawful businesses, as every inch of Enugu State had been well covered by the security agencies and infrastructure to assure security of lives and property.

This was even as the Enugu State Command of the Nigeria Police also countermanded the sit-at-home advisory by criminal elements, declaring that any attempt to disrupt peace and security in the state would be met with “decisive action.”

In a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, on Sunday, the government said, “The Dr Peter Mbah administration has demonstrated the will and capacity to keep the state safe. The state has put in place adequate security arrangements and infrastructure to track down and deal with every criminal that wants to test the will of the government and Ndi Enugu on this matter.

“Also, workers and businesses that fail to turn up at their places of work or business will have themselves to blame for sabotaging the effort of the government to maintain law and order in the state,” Onyia stated.