Enugu metropolis in South-East Nigeria is a ghost city, as another Monday Sit-at-home observance bites hard on the socio-economic activities of the region.
Conflicting social media reports on whether the civil disobedience directive issued by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, is suspended or not, has continued to paralyze movement and businesses in Enugu city.
Also Read: IPOB: Scanty roads in Enugu and Abia despite suspension of Monday’s sit-at-home protest
The roads and streets are free, with very few vehicular and human movements.
It is mainly students writing examinations, particularly the West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations that are briskly making it to schools.
The markets, shops and banks have not opened for business this Monday morning.
The situation is the same at major administrative and commercial hubs of the South East region.
The commercial cities of Aba, Onitsha and Nnewi are reportedly on total lockdown this Monday morning.
However, the stories from Umuahia, Abakaliki and Awka are slightly different, as few vehicles, tricycles and shops are operating in the cities.
IPOB, a separatist agitation group, based in the predominately Igbo ethnic South East region of Nigeria, had ordered the people to stay away from public and business areas every Monday, to protest the continued holding of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, in the custody of Nigeria’s secret police, the DSS.
Although the group had announced the suspension of the civil action, largely residents, are keeping away, choosing to stay indoors, for fear of attacks and violence by the militant, Eastern Security Network, ESN, otherwise referred to as, Unknown Gunmen, UGM.
Several violent attacks by unknown gunmen on security personnel, public facilities and individuals in recent months have left hundreds, dead.
Self-imposed lockdown in the South East only crippled the region’s economy, which is known for trade and commerce.
Locals are not heeding to the directives of the constituted authorities in the region, such as the state governors, who have called on the people to ignore and disregard the orders of the illegal group, IPOB.
There are deep concerns that the region may be drifting to a situation of anarchy if the government does not take strong steps to address the situation.
