Despite warnings, sanctions by both the Anambra state government and the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), tension has continued to grip residents of the state as commercial tricycles, commercial buses and brutal beating of victims who fail to comply with the sit out home order emerge.
News Echo reports that for five Mondays now since proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) issued a sit-at-home order in the South East geopolitical zone as to seek release of their detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, events have continued to record partial compliance in Anambra State despite a counter order of sanction recently made available by Governor Willie Obiano.
A statement by the State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. C. Don Adinuba had claimed that governor Obiano after series of meetings with representatives of markers, banks, drivers, private sectors and public institutions, directed all to “operate fully every Monday and any other weekday except any day declared work-free by the appropriate authorities.”
Reports reveal that the executive order was not complied to at Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi metropolis, because roads were less busy as popular motor parks drivers including ‘pick and drop’ commuters were not seen except few private vehicles probably owned by civil servants.
Earlier when News Echo monitored compliance in some part of Onitsha on Monday, it was gathered that the ever busy road that stretched from Holy Trinity Onitsha to 3:3 junction leading to Nkwelle and Nsugbe college of education turned a ghost town as no movements of commercial activities were seen.
Similarly, few commercial buses, tricycles and motorcyclists were spotted mostly between 6am to 8am, but doubled from 2pm upwards which was when travelers’ and pedestrians’ movements improved.
It was also observed that public and private schools partially opened with few students in attendance just as most banks in the state began normal operation from 1.30pm although their staff and security had been available since morning
Our correspondent who visited some markets, like main market, Ose Okwodu market and the state Secretariat at Awka including some parastatals like Kenneth Dike Library, Awka Capital Development Authority (ANSIPPA), Ministry of lands, Anambra State Universal Education Board among others, reported that many offices and shops were under lock and key, just as most civil servants did not turn up to work.
A civil servant (name withheld), spotted in one of the institutions, informed News Echo that other staff were unavailable due to the sit-at-home order but would be in office fully from Wednesday this week.
The staff point of view corroborated with another order issued by Comrade Emma Powerful, the Media and Publicity Secretary of IPOB, on Monday, that the main sit-at-home would hold Tuesday September 14th.
Powerful had in a statement said that IPOB sit-at-home on Tuesday would be for remembrance of what he tagged “the victims of the genocidal invasion of our Leader’s (Kanu’s) compound at Afaraukwu Ibeku Umuahia on the 14th of September 2017. No fewer than 28 innocent Biafrans were killed that day by the Nigeria Army during the raid.”
Meanwhile, Governor Willie Obiano and some of his cabinet, Monday, from 1.30pm, visited some commercial banks and Eke Awka markets, thanking them for hearkening to his order with assurance that they were secured to operate normal activities.
On Tuesday, yesterday, some groups yet to be identified took over the streets of Awka, the capital state of Anambra, moving about trying to enforce the sit at-home order by harassing innocent people who opened their shops with matchets.
News Echo gathered that “At about 07:30hrs, a group of men arrived Author Eze Avenue on a two motor bikes, blocked the road near Emmaus House and burnt one keke in order to scare people away, while the other was burnt near the temp site Avenue”. Observers said the passengers were beaten and injured on the process but none was killed. It was also revealed that they vowed to go round the town to enforce the sit at-home order. The unknown gunmen warned that Awka does not obey the sit at home so they are out for Awka residents.
Adding another gory incident which left community members in disarray was the burning of a commercial bus around 11:35am by yet to be identified gunmen in front of a filling station located at Afor-Udo, Nanka Community in Orumba north L.G.A of the state.
According to an anonymous who confined to News Echo, that he was in his house when he heard a loud shout and came out to see the bus in flames. However, an online video which has been circulating on social media had revealed a burning commercial Toyota bus with Awka colour burning in front of a filling station with the phone bearer stating the exact location of the event.
Earlier on Monday, a private Camry car was also set ablaze at Achina, in Aguata LG.A of the state though according to reports the owner managed to escape.
Meanwhile, when contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Anambra state, Dsp Ikenga Tochukwu, noted that “The command and other security agencies have since intensify patrols and surveillance, adding that “police personnel are on ground and the situation is being monitored. Normalcy has also been restored is some of these areas”, he submitted.
