Despite the suspension of the sit-at-home order earlier called by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) to Ndigbo in the Southeast to sit at home every Monday until their leader, detained Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is released; many people in Abia State still stayed indoors and didn’t venture out.
In Aba and Umuahia, the protest persisted, as many streets were empty even as shops and banks had their doors shut. Reports coming from Aba said despite the opening of some markets, traders were not seen in their shops.
The same incident played out in Umuahia as many traders as well as businessmen and women remained in their houses, preferring stay off the street that day. Few tricycles known as Keke plied the road even as few vehicles could be seen moving on the streets of Umuahia and Aba.
The action could be attributed to fears of attack by hoodlums posing as IPOB members, while it is also gathered that some people stayed out their work or their trading posts in sympathy with IPOB’s demands.
The Indigenous Peoples of Biafra are demanding the unconditional release of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. A human rights activist, Dr Charles Chinekezie asked the Muhammadu Buhari led government to free Kanu without delay and call for a national dialogue.
According to him, the President cannot to look the other way and play the tough guy character while the country is heading to precipice, adding that “Buhari should exploit every peaceful means to restore the nation to normalcy”.
Uche Nwosu is a two time Shell Petroleum PLC award winner in the year 2000;
He won the Shell Award on Investigative Journalism and Environmental Cleanliness.
