Activities Grounded Across South-East Over Pro-Biafra Sit-At-Home

Socio-economic activities across most parts of Nigeria's South East and some parts of the South-South were grounded Tuesday, as residents complied with the sit-at-home order by pro-Biafra groups to mark the 50 years since the secessionist enclave first existed.

At most cities in Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi States, hitherto boisterous streets and roads were empty going into mid-day as residents closed shop and stayed away from work. In Onitsha, shops were under locks with a some youths spotted on the Owerri-Onitsha expressway, setting bonfires.

Similar lockdowns were reported by Vigil360 contacts across Owerri, with staff of various banks disclosing that they were advised to dress down for work. Skeletal services were also reported at some of the banks in the city.

In Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, significant compliance to the order was reported with the ever busy Ikwerre road devoid of its usual rush hour traffic. Very few residents also complied with the observance at Asaba.

The Police had earlier warned the various separatist agitation groups over the planned sit-at-home order especially as similar order in the past has usually ended in violence and clashes between recalcitrant pro-Biafra youths and security agencies.

In October, 2015, the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS), as Government looked to stem the wave of violence agitations and harmful propaganda in the South East. He was released April 2017 on health grounds by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court. Abuja.

Anxiety had trailed the golden jubilee celebrations of the defunct Biafra by its apologists, coming on the heels of Kanu's celebrated freedom. Security agencies including the Police and the military however made several deployments across the South East zone to preempt any violence.