By Cajetan Mmuta, Awka
A total lock down was yesterday recorded in the five states of the South-East geopolitical zone of the country, following the declaration by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB) led by Nnamdi Kanu.
The group, which activities focus mainly across the South-East zone, had since the last two weeks been urging residents of the five states not to come out between Monday and Tuesday (October 21st and 22nd, 2024) as they want to launch their armoury and other war equipment, which venue was not made public.
Residents locked themselves indoors, while businesses, commercial banks, motor parks, petrol stations, markets, supermarkets, shops, schools and government offices were shut down.
Roads and streets were deserted, in total compliance with the directive by IPoB.
The compliance by residents and traders, workers and market women was potent, such that nobody dared come out, except for a few tricycle operators in Awka, the Anambra State capital.
The Onitsha-Awka-Enigu express road was totally empty as motorists and passengers were scared to ply the ever-busy route.
At the heavily-populated commercial town of Onitsha, the main market, Ogidi Building Materials Market, the Bridge Head Drugs market, New Auto Parts Market in Nkpor, were virtually empty.
Ditto the Nnewi Auto Parts Market, which was also under lock and key.
Traders who bothered to venture to the popular Eke Awka daily market area and other markets for normal business of the day were seen in groups drinking beer and discussing other issues of great concern to them.
In Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State and Umuahia, the capital town, businesses and other economic activities were crippled by the IPoB sit-at-home order.
No motorist nor tricycles were seen plying the usually busy Osisioma-Port Harcourt express route, while the roads leading to Ariaria Main Market, Ehi, Omuma, Ngwa roads and other major roads and streets witnessed no vehicular and human moment.
Checks at the state and Federal Secretariat complexes near the popular Three Arms Zone, otherwise known as the Ekwueme Square, were deserted, as no workers were seen on duty.
Recall that traders had last week rebuffed the order by the state governor, Chukwuma Soludo, that traders in all the markets of the state must open their shops for normal businesses every Monday, which is the IPoB’s sit-at-home day, else they would lose their shops, a threat the traders completely dismissed with the wave of hand because of the porous security challenges within and outside the markets on Mondays.
Soludo had also yesterday patrolled round Awka, the state capital, with security operatives, following the public outcries about the activities of rival secret groups that left about 17 persons dead on Sunday at the Nibo and Okpuno communities, both in the Awka South local government area of the state.
Similarly, in Enugu State, all the popular markets such as the Ogbete Enugu market, New Market, Asaba and Garki road markets, were ghost towns, despite the order by the state governor, Peter Mbah, that adequate security would be in place for the people across the state.
In Imo State, workers, motorists and traders stayed at home over their fear of the unknown.
Although operatives of the state-owned vigilante security outfit, otherwise known as Ebubeagu, had intensified patrol across the major roads, streets and other areas, people remained indoors, while motorists deserted the roads.
Skeletal vehicular and human movements were recorded in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, though businesses were at low ebb, even as banks, petrol stations, shops and markets were locked.
It is feared by residents that the situation at home over the launch of war armoury by IPOB will continue today.
Meanwhile, IPOB has announced the unfortunate assassination of its Biafra Land National Coordinator, Ikechukwu Ugwuoha.
It said Mazi Ugwuoha was assassinated by ‘’the soulless and recruited agents around his residence on 18th October, 2024 at Aba.
Director of Media and Publicity Secretary of the group, Emma Powerful, said in a statement yesterday: “IPOB understands that the assassination of an unarmed innocent man whose only crime is coordinating a peaceful movement in Biafra Land.”
He said that, “Those who assassinated Mazi Ugwuoha want to send panic and fear to the IPoB members and sympathisers, but, unfortunately, IPoB has gone beyond the fear of death.”
IPob also stated that, “Those responsible for this dastardly act have murdered sleep in their eyes because we won’t leave them.
“IPoB’s Intelligence Unit (M.Branch) is mandated to uncover their identities and appropriate revenge will be mated on the soulless enemies and criminals.
“As we mourn for the loss of our trusted, reliable and formidable Biafra Land Coordinator, we encourage all Biafrans, M.Branch ESN operatives, IPoB volunteers, coordinators to take appropriate security measures against the onslaught of the enemies and criminals.”
The organisation added, “We must stand strong and resolute to defeat the enemies and criminals as we have been doing in the past. This phase will pass and IPOB shall emerge stronger.
“The Nigerian government and her sponsored agents of provocateurs want to set a stage that IPoB will change the direction of this peaceful struggle. However, IPoB does not follow the pace set by our enemies; we won’t kill Biafrans.”
