Residents of the five Southeast states yesterday largely ignored the sit-at-home order of the Simon Ekpa-led faction of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
From Enugu, Abia, Imo, and Ebonyi to Anambra, they went about their activities without hindrance.
It is the first time in about two years that there will be normal activities in the region on a Monday.
In Enugu, most of the roads were busy as transporters and traders went about their normal businesses without being harassed. Many markets were open just as some commercial banks attended to customers.
There was no violent incident recorded as security operatives were deployed to various strategic points in Enugu capital city and other towns in the state, giving the residents assurances of their safety.
Many residents expressed satisfaction with the determination and efforts of the Peter Mbah-led administration in Enugu State to ensure that the illegal sit-at-home was no longer observed in the state.
Also in Ebonyi, it was business as usual as people went about their normal activities, with banks, markets and government offices open.
Security agencies patrolled the city while some were positioned in strategic points across the state capital, Abakaliki.
Residents, backed by the state government, have long stopped obeying sit-at-home orders.
In Anambra, the armed criminals that enforced the sit-at-home directives were nowhere in sight.
There was no report of harassment or threat to life or property as businesses went on.
It was gathered that the hoodlums’ apparent disappearance followed their fear of being exposed by residents because security operatives had taken the battle to their doorsteps rather than waiting for them to strike first.
A security operative who spoke to our correspondent in confidence said enforcers of the directive were dealt with a few weeks ago in most of their hideouts in the forest and flash points.
“Residents, including community leaders and other stakeholders have now taken it as a duty to expose them wherever they may be as security is everyone’s business.
“That is why we are recording good results. Most of the people enforcing sit-at-home are criminals who capitalise on the situation to rob, assault, kidnap, assassinate and intimidate innocent people of the state,” he said.
Nevertheless, banks, courts, and some markets, among others remained shut despite Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s directives to market leaders and civil servants to return to their businesses and IPOB’s statement that sit-at-home had been cancelled.
The situation was similar in Abia where, although major markets, financial institutions and other establishments in the state were closed, most residents went about their businesses in peace.
There were commercial and economic activities in many parts of the state’s two major cities of Aba and Umuahia as motor parks and some private offices were open for business.
Some petrol stations were seen dispensing products to customers, unlike in the past when only a handful of petrol stations were open for business.
However, the gates to major markets including the popular Ariaria International Market, Cemetery, Shopping Centre and Ahia Ohuru were closed.
But at the popular St. Michael’s Road housing electronic and mobile phone dealers, some of the traders were seen in their shops.
Several business premises were open to customers in Imo as motorists and commercial motorcyclists were seen picking up passengers from various bus stops.
Apart from sensitive institutions like banks which did not open for business, supermarkets, markets and other petty traders attended to their businesses without hindrance.
A restaurant operator along Ikenegbu Road, who simply gave his name as Nze Nnadi, was thankful.
“We have been directed to resume operation on Mondays. We are grateful that normalcy is gradually returning to the state,” he said.
IPOB first declared the sit-at-home to demand the release of its leader Nnamdi Kanu, but after calling it off, the Ekpa faction continued to call for it.
Kanu, however, wrote an open letter to Ekpa, directing that there should be no more sit-at-home.
Meanwhile, the traditional ruler of Enugwu-Aguleri, Anambra East Council Area of Anambra State, Eze Chukwuemeka Eri absolved IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu of blame for insecurity in the region.
Speaking at his palace in Aguleri, after visiting Kanu in Abuja the monarch quoted Kanu as saying, “I don’t derive joy from seeing children being denied going to school and workers staying idle on Mondays that is the beginning of the week.
“My vision for fighting for the emancipation and liberation of the peoples of Biafra is not such that will enslave them to economic deprivation.
“My suffering is not to destroy or harm rather to give a voice to Ndigbo, but some hoodlums have maximized my absence to perpetrate all forms of crime and criminality in the name of agitation.”
Other monarchs, including traditional rulers of Mkpunando and Enugwu-Otu Aguleri, Igwe Johnson Mbanefo and Igwe Emmanuel Ejiofor, corroborated his position.
Also yesterday, the President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu said restructuring was the only panacea to the country’s political and economic woes.
Iwuanyanwu in a recent online town hall meeting held in the United States of America said restructuring would avail all ethnic groups the opportunity to focus on their needs and interests and use their resources to execute projects that are vital in various federating units.
The President General promised to use his position as the leader of the foremost Igbo group to begin a massive economic revolution in Igboland by harnessing both human and natural resources in the zone as a stepping stone.
”Henceforth, adequate attention will be paid to education, mining, transportation industries and infrastructural development to make the zone an investment destination of Nigeria and beyond,” he added.
