Economic and social activities were shut down in Awka, the Anambra State capital and several parts of the State, Friday as residents complied with the orders of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, to stay indoors on the day the leader of the separatist agitation group, Nnamdi Kanu appeared in court over charges of treason.
The outlawed group insists that the sit-at-home civil disobedience is part of actions to press the Federal Government to grant demands for the unconditional release of Kanu from the custody of the secret police, the Department of State Services, DSS, in Abuja.
Although the proscribed IPOB and the new government in Anambra State have severally announced the cancellation of the sit-at-home actions, this did not persuade residents to come out for their private businesses
On Thursday, multiple violent attacks on government and private facilities were carried out in Aguata Local government area, the home town of Governor Chukwuma Soludo by suspected operatives of the Eastern Security Network, ESN, the militant wing of IPOB.
Also read: Just In : Nnamdi Kanu pleads not guilty to all the charges against him
Buildings and vehicles at the Aguata council Secretariat were set ablaze and a cattle market in Igboukwu in the same area was attacked, killing several herds, but IPOB spokesperson, Emma Powerful has denied that the group has a hand in the incidents.
Several public places in Awka which are usually busy on a work day, looked empty and deserted this Friday.
The Eke Awka market, which is the biggest market in the State capital, the Unizik junction, the Enugu-Onitsha express road, Banks, motor parks, government offices and other public places were devoid of the high human and vehicular traffics, as the regular sit-at-home action bite hard on the people’s economy.
Residents refused to speak to ait.live on why they choose to obey the sit-at-home order, despite the directives by the IPOB and Governor Soludo that the action had ended in Anambra State.
Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe
