By Cajetan Mmuta, Awka
The Federal Government yesterday filed fresh terrorism charges against the embattled leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

In an amended process filed before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, the government increased the counts in the initial charge preferred against Kanu.

Kanu, who has been in detention since his alleged abduction from Kenya and forceful return to Nigeria, faced seven treasonable felony charges, but will now enter his fresh plea to 15 amended charges marked FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, and signed by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), M. B. Abubakar.

The charges were amended barely 24 hours before the scheduled commencement of hearing by trial Justice Binta Nyako.

Kanu was flown to Abuja in a private jet on June 27, 2021, from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi after being arrested in the East African country some eight days earlier. He has since been in detention.

Meanwhile, socio-economic activities across the five states in the South-East geopolitical zone of the country were crippled yesterday as citizens and residents stayed indoors to observe the sit-at-home directive by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Although IPOB had insisted that the exercise is no longer in existence, investigations showed that activities of the group have been hijacked by hoodlums who hide under its banner to unleash terror on unsuspecting members of the public.

Checks revealed that filling stations, commercial banks, major markets, motor parks, shops, schools and other business outlets were shut.

This is as tension and fear have enveloped Ubudom Atta community in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State, following the alleged beheading of a 65-year-old man identified as Nnoruoka Onyeokwu by yet-to-be-identified hoodlums.

Reports say the gunmen had, after beheading the man, displayed his head at the primary school in the community.

The incident was said to have happened on Saturday.

Residents fled their homes as the ugly development caused panic in the community, following the spate of violence and killings in the area since last year.

Source close to the community said yesterday that the victim was attacked in his house in the night.

The villagers were suddenly woken up the next day to see his severed head dangling at the premises of the primary school in the village.

According to the source,”The man was attacked at night in his house. People woke up the next morning to see his cut-off head displayed at the primary school. Nobody knew those who attacked him, or why he was beheaded.

“The community is in a state of panic. People are running away because of the fear of the unknown. This is very unfortunate.”

However, most students and pupils in public schools stayed as their wards prevented them from going out over fear of the unknown.

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In Awka, the Anambra state capital and adjoining towns and communities, including Nkwor Nnewi, markets, including Auto Spare Parts Market, New Parts Market, Building Materials Market, Relieve Market Upper Iweka, Onitsha International Market and Nkpor Market were all closed as residents remained indoors.

Tricycle operators took the advantage to ferry passengers to their destinations amid high fares.

Residents who dared come out did so at their own risks.

Workers of government ministries and agencies were seen going to their offices at the State Secretariat close to Aroma junction, although in small numbers.

However, heavily armed operatives of the Anambra State Police Command were seen on patrol along major routes and streets of Awka and other towns to forestall any breach of peace.

In Abia State, the roads leading to Osisioma-Port Harcourt, Owerri Aba road, Faulks and Ogbor Hill routes and motor parks were all deserted while Ariaria International Market remained closed, as well as the timber market and other business centres.

In Enugu State, shops were shut to observe the IPOB sit-at-home directive.

Meanwhile, there are indications that IPOB’s sit-at-home will now be held today, and not including tomorrow and Thursday as reported in the social media.

It is estimated that IPOB’s frequent directive for sit-at-home has so far cost the geopolitical zone reputed for business and other commercial over N15 billion between last year and now.

Worse of it all is the spate of killings and destruction of properties in recent times in most communities in Orlu, Ori-East, Njaba, Orsu, Nkwere, Oru West, Ihiala and others in Imo and Anambra states.

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Three weeks ago, heavily armed men suspected to be a security team working in conjunction with Ebubeagu vigilante in Imo State, stormed Okwu Akatta, Utah Akatta and other communities and villages where they raised houses and destroyed millions of naira worth of properties in the process.
Among the homes visited by the team was that of a widow, Mrs. Olivia Okechukwu, where they destroyed doors of the building.

They were said to have shot sporadically in the late hours of the night in search of young men who came home during the Christmas and New Year celebrations, who are suspected to be IPOB members.
The security team also stormed the home of a popular community leader, Chief John Ogbe, and destroyed his ancestral shrine and house.

On Wednesday, two youths identified as Nonso Eleke (from Umuihe Urah Akatta) an altar boy at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral in Ihite Akatta, and another, simply known also as Nonso at Umueze Urah Akatta, were brutally murdered in the night.

Both victims were said to have been trailed by their assailants to Orie Okporo Market in Orlu local government area and forced into a vehicle from where they were taken to a road leading to Akuma community and shot dead.

Residents of the community were said to have been thrown into mourning following the unfortunate incidents that befell the families and the area.

The development had forced residents to flee their homes and relocated to far towns in fear of further attacks and killings.

It is feared that sabotage and reprisal attacks between forces of the special security outfit of the state government and suspected IPOB members may have been introduced in the efforts to stem the state of insecurity across Imo and Anambra states.

The ugly scenario has seriously negated the socio-economic activity of residents and citizens of Imo State as most men have fled their towns and communities over spate of gunmen attacks.