Following a statement from the top echelon of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on May 28 directing it members to observe a sit-at-home order in memory of those who lost their lives in the Nigeria-Biafra war from 1967 to 1970, residents in Rivers, Enugu, Imo and most southeastern states vehemently defy the order.
Records from Oyigbo and Eleme in Port Harcourt regarded as stronghold of Igbos recorded non-compliance as residents were busy going about their normal business. At the popular ikokwu spare parts market, traders mainly of Igbo extraction were busy transacting their businesses. A trader identified as Michael Obi said that sit at home order affects his business and decided to defile the order and face his business. “Why should I shut down my business to observe an order that does not have any significant economic value to me? If I close down my business how will I feed my family? How will I take care of my daily need? I don’t think the sit at home order has any meaning to me,” he said.
The story was the same in Imo state as residents went about their normal businesses. Commercial activities went on uninterrupted in Owerri metropolis and its environs.
Banks were open to customers, while commercial activities went on normally in all the markets in the city, including the Relief and Timber markets.
Similarly, Enugu residents disregarded the sit-at-home order given by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). No sign of compliance was seen as the roads were busy with vehicular traffic and many people were going about their activities. Major points such as, the Agbani Road axis, had heavy traffic as many people including school children and workers were boarding commercial buses to their different destinations.
Public and private schools in the metropolis were opened for normal academic activities for the day. Kenyatta, Garki and Akwata markets in the metropolis, as well as banks, were opened for business, while traders were busy displaying their goods as usual.
