In Enugu metropolis, like many cities across the Southeast region of Nigeria, residents on Monday complied fully with the latest sit-at-home directive issued by the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
Notably absent in public places and the streets in the city were security personnel, adding to the emptiness of the roads.
This high level of compliance may not be unconnected to a viral video that has been circulating in social media since last week, showing an unidentified man warning Southeast residents to observe a sit-at-home on Monday, 21st and Tuesday, 22nd October, 2024.
The suspected IPOB agent in the video claimed that those he referred to as Biafran Warriors would be launching armoured cars and raising the Biafran flags across the region, predicting confrontations with security forces, and urging citizens to stay indoors to avoid casualties.
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While sit-at-home orders from non-state actors are common in the region, the reason given this time is unusual and apparently heightened the fear among residents.
Despite reassurances from Enugu State government, and the Police command urging people to go about their lawful activities, AIT crew observed a complete shutdown of the city.
Businesses at the biggest market in the city, Ogbete were closed, banks and schools shut their doors just like government and private offices.
(Editor: Okechukwu Eze)
