Economic and social activities have been paralyzed in major towns of Anambra State, South East Nigeria, Wednesday as residents comply with the Sit-at-Home order issued by the proscribed, Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
Residents are staying indoors on a day the leader of the separatist agitation group, Nnamdi Kanu is appearsing in court in Abuja, the Nigerian capital city to answer to charges of treasonable felony.
Spokesman of the outlawed IPOB, Emma Powerful had claimed that the Wednesday sit-at-home civil action in the South East region of the country is in solidarity with Kanu who is standing trail and to compel the Federal authorities to free him from the custody of the secret police, as well as withdraw all charges against the leader of the self agitation group..
The Eke Awka market, which is the biggest retail market in Awka; the ever busy Enugu- Onitsha Expressway; motor parks; government offices and other public places in Awka, the Anambra State capital are deserted.
The same situation is being reported in Onitsha, Nnewi, Ekwulobia, major commercial and industrial hubs in Anambra State.
Since Monday, most commercial and other activities in Anambra state have remained paralyzed as security broke down in several parts, with the three days shut down of the region biting hard on the people.
Multiple gunmen attacks and arson have occured in the popular 3-3 areas of Onitsha and at the Idemmili North Local Government Secretariat in Ogidi.
The council area office buildings and other property were set ablaze in the early hours of Monday, including a Magistrate court, INEC office and the Ogidi area office of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC.
ait.live confirmed heavy shootout between the military and gunmen at the 3-3 Housing Estate, Nkwele Ezunaka, near Onitsha, late Sunday, while a face-off between suspected cultists and vigilante in ifite Awka on Tuesday, may have recorded casualties.
The Police in Awka are yet to speak on the latest developments at the time of this report.
No resident agreed to speak on the security situation in the State as the environment remained generally tensed with rumours of possible violent attacks by alleged enforcers of the sit-at-home civil disobedience.
(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)
