Biafra Day: Total breakdown of Yesterday's sit-at-home order in Biafraland

Yesterday’s sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to marked the 50 years anniversary of the declaration of the state of Biafra recorded huge success in virtually all the South East states and in some parts of South-South.

It is reported that commercial activities were paralysed in major cities in Abia, Anambra, Imo, Enugu and Bayelsa states.

However, report we gathered showed that the sit-at-home order was said to have recorded partial compliance in Ebonyi State.

In Onitsha, the commercial hub of Anambra State, there was no human and vehicular movements as markets, schools, banks, parks and filling stations were closed as residents and traders remained indoors in total compliance with the sit-at-home order.

But, police helicopter kept hovering in the air within the city of Onitsha while Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) were stationed at strategic places at Bridgehead, Nkpor Junction and (Dennis Memorial Grammar School) DMGS Junction to ensure there was no breakdown of law and order during the exercise.

Same goes to Aba, Abia State, police helicopter were seen hovering over the commercial city, and security personnel were seen moving round the city in their Hilux fan.

The ever busy Aba Owerri road looked like a deserted area as no vehicular movement were recorded.
Major markets, including Ariaria, Cemetery, Ahia Ohuru (New Market), Shopping Centre, Asa Nnetu Spare parts market and Ehere, among others were all closed.

Government offices in Aba north, Aba south, Osisioma and Obingwa Local Government headquarters were all closed as workers stayed at home, while there was no life in several motor parks across the city in total compliance of the sit-at-home order.

In Umuahia, Abia State capital, there was compliance to the order from morning till about noon, before vehicular and human movements started gradually.

Most of the shops, offices and markets did not open for business as usual as only few people were seen moving  about.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Leye Oyebade, was seen patrolling Umuahia with an entourage of about seven vehicles, apparently to forestall possible breakdown of law and order.

In Imo State, there was  total paralysis of commercial activities in Owerri, state capital, as major markets, schools, commercial banks and shopping malls shut their doors to customers in compliance with the sit-at-home order by IPOB.

Similarly, there was no vehicular movement, as major roads of Owerri like Bank, Tetlow, MCC, Okigwe and Douglas roads were deserted. Few passengers  who were on transit were stranded. Owerri residents complied with the order as they remained indoors while major markets, including Ekeukwu along Douglas road and Relief  along Egbu road, Shoprite, Everyday Super markets, commercial banks, schools and motor parks were shut down.

In Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital and its environs, business activities were paralysed yesterday following the order.

In Delta, some business outfits, including markets were shut yesterday in Asaba, state capital in partial compliance of the sit-at-home order.

Contrary to the success recorded yesterday, IPOB, revealed that over 76 countries observed and participated in the peaceful march to honour Biafran fallen heroes who died during the civil war between 1967 and 1970 and otherswho died in the struggle.

The group, however, congratulated Biafrans and all IPOB family members worldwide, for their compliance with the order issued by its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

A statement by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Mr. Emma Powerful, said: “Biafrans have proven to the entire world that they need freedom and the world must know that we are not going back in the quest for independence of Biafra.”

Meanwhile, the world was talking about the sit-at-home order as BBC recorded the success story and interviewed some member of IPOB.