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The sit-at-home order, declared by a factional group, was widely observed by residents of Anambra State on Monday and Tuesday. The streets were unusually quiet as people complied with the directive, leading to a significant slowdown in economic and social activities.
This widespread compliance occurred despite the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) urging residents in the South-East to disregard the sit-at-home order. Many still chose to stay indoors, reflecting the tension and uncertainty that such directives create in the region.
Newsmen noted a complete shutdown of economic and commercial activities as major markets, roads, law courts, schools, banks, petrol stations, and other public areas across the key cities of Onitsha, Nnewi, Ekwulobia, and parts of Awka were deserted on Monday. The usually bustling areas remained eerily quiet, reflecting the widespread adherence to the order.
Only a handful of roadside traders were spotted displaying their goods at locations such as Nkpor and Ochanja markets in Onitsha, as well as Eke-Awka market in Awka. However, the main markets remained closed, with shops firmly locked, underscoring the high level of compliance with the sit-at-home order.
The state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, who visited the market in Nkpor on Monday as part of his routine monitoring of activities in the markets, expressed satisfaction that the street traders came out for activities.
While briefly interacting with the traders, Soludo told the people to go about their lawful activities, assuring them of their safety and well-being.
A video and voice notes, apparently from a factional group of IPOB, had circulated on social media last week warning residents of the South-East to remain indoors on October 21 and 22, saying that those days have been declared sit-at-home and also threatening to deal with anyone who fails to comply with the directive.
But the pleas by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s IPOB through its spokesman, Emma Powerful, for residents to ignore the sit-at-home call and go about their normal business did not yield any positive change as residents remained indoors, while some gathered in the streets and discussed matters of various interest.
Read also: Obi Presses FG To Track Down Killers Of Anambra Youths
A market leader in one of the major markets in Onitsha who was spotted near the markets but requested anonymity said, “You know the governor has given us a directive to be opening the markets on Monday. Our own is to obey the directive by opening the gates for traders.
“But as you can see, everywhere is deserted due to the sit-at-home that began today. For fear of being attacked by hoodlums, everyone has decided to stay indoors and wait for events to unfold. Even the traders did not come; the few ones that came just hung around and observed things.
Another pedestrian, John Okonkwo, said, “Only Nnamdi Kanu’s release will stop Monday’s sit-at-home; there is nothing anyone can do about this. The governors of the region should just focus on using their good offices to lobby for the release of Kanu.”
But in his reaction to the development, a human rights activist in the state and the Director of Civil Liberty Group, Ebuka Ikem, said, “It is a shame to the authorities that a voice note has been circulating the warning and threatening people to stay at home and no one can trace the origin and source of the voice note.
“What happened to the NIN we were forced to do? Can’t the network providers be asked to trace the people who always circulate these voice notes?
“One day, they would ask us to remain indoors for one month, and everybody would comply like zombies. It’s a shame.”
