Fear of gunmen hijacking the protest against the high cost of living on Thursday, August 1, forced residents of Anambra state to stay indoors.
Some major markets in Onitsha and Awka, opened for business but with few traders in attendance, while in Nnewi, markets remained closed.
Few vehicles were seen along the Awka-Onitsha expressway, and the link roads in towns like Nnewi, Onitsha, and Awka were virtually empty.
Security operatives were patrolling the roads with sirens blaring and were positioned at strategic locations.
One of the traders, Sunday Okeke, told The Nation that there was no need to protest, suggesting that some people wanted to use the protest to showcase their frustration.
A civil servant, who pleaded anonymity, was seen at Aroma around 12:25 pm, being driven to the office just to sign the attendance register.
She said that people stayed indoors out of fear of being attacked by gunmen, a practice that has persisted in the Southeast for years.
Many shops, schools, and banks were also closed.