The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Sit-at-home

  • Southeast residents ignore sit-at-home order storm Uzodimma’s inauguration

    Southeast residents ignore sit-at-home order storm Uzodimma’s inauguration

    In what looks like end to the Monday’s sit-at-home order of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the residents of the southeast region were seen trooping in to Imo state to participate in the second term inauguration of the Imo state governor, Hope Uzodimma.

    People were seen trooping into Dan Anyiam stadium in Owerri, venue of inauguration  ceremony.

    It has always been empty and scanty on Mondays as the highways, especially the road leading to Imo state from Owerri- Mbaise, Owerri- Onitsha, Owerri-Aba and Owerri-Okigwe roads were usually a ghost town.  

    Read Also: Umahi felicitates Uzodimma on second inauguration

    But Uzodimma, inauguration saw the increase in vehicular movements on the express roads as residents across the Southeast were still arriving the state to take part in the second term inauguration.  

    Participants from Imo, Ebonyi, Enugu, Anambra and Abia were seen in their busses driving into the state for the governor’s inauguration.  

    Details shortly…

  • Sit-at-home impeding growth in Southeast, says Deputy Speaker

    Sit-at-home impeding growth in Southeast, says Deputy Speaker

    Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu has said that the “sit-at-home” ordered by the Indigenous People of Biafra is impeding the growth and development of the Southeast region.

    Kalu spoke when he received a delegation from Aba Creatives Collective, Friday organisers of Aba Fashion Show, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office at the National Assembly on Friday.

    In a statement by his Special Assistant on Press Affairs, Udora Orizu, the Deputy Speaker said the issue of insecurity in the region has been a great challenge.

    He said the sit-at-home agenda of non-state actors has led to loss of manpower, increasing unemployment and exodus of investors from the region.

    Read Also: Sit-at-home victim’s family begs Nwifuru for assistance

    The Deputy Speaker urged Igbos to reject the sit-at-home agenda, and say no to the fear sold by “these faceless individuals who don’t mean any good for the Indigenes.”

    Kalu said, “I am genuinely excited about Aba Fashion Week, an initiative that promotes our local economy. I know what fashion, fashion designing, tailoring anything that has to do with clothing can do to an economy, because we talk about the three basic needs of man, shelter, food and clothing.  “The economic losses that the region has suffered by the sit-at-home agenda of the non-state actors has integrated impediments to regional growth, regional economic integration, even into our regional leadership integration and into regional development integration.”  

  • IPOB sit-at-home: Four in court over alleged arson

    FOUR persons have been arraigned before a Chief Magistrate Court in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital for allegedly setting ablaze a Mercedes Benz valued at N6 million. The vehicle marked AH 483 ABM, said to belong to one Chilaka Michael, was among the nine other commercial trucks burnt by the accused persons in the attack. The suspects are Anieti Jacob 34, Okpara Okechukwu 25, Gentle George 21 and Maduabuchi Nwokafor.

    They were charged with three-count charge bordering on arson and treasonable felony punishable by death or imprisonment, if convicted. The accused persons allegedly committed the crime at Oyigbo express road junction of the state, during the sit-at-home protest declared by the outlawed members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on September 14, 2018.

    The prosecutor, Inspector Wilson Isaiah told the court that their offence contravenes sections 516 A (1), 41 (c) and 443 (a) of the Criminal Code, Cap C38 laws of federation of Nigeria, 2004. The charge was not however read out to them, and neither were they allowed to take plea. Apart from one of the accused person that had legal representation, others were not represented by any lawyer. The presiding Magistrate, Sokari Andrew Jaja ordered that they be remanded in prison custody as he adjourned the case till December 20, 2018 for hearing.

  • IPOB Sit-at-home: Aba residents shun security directives

    Despite assurances of safety of lives and property of residents and visitors to the state by heads of various security agencies in Abia State, residents, traders, private and government workers in Aba, the commercial nerve of the State on Friday stayed away from their shops and offices as the Indigenous People of Biafra ( IPOB ) hold sit-at-home across the southeast states.

    A release by the spokesman of the secessionist group, Emma Powerful had urged the people to stay away from their offices and shops in honour of their late colleagues who were murdered in Afaraukwu, the country home of their leader and Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu by soldiers.

    Our correspondent who monitored compliance to the sit-at-home order by the IPOB, reports that while there was compliance to the order in Aba, it was business as usual in Umuahia, the state capital as the people were seen going about their businesses without any harassment by anybody.

    According to our reporter, while the gates of major markets in Aba including Ariaria International market, Cemetery, Shopping Plaza, Ahia Ohuru, Bakassi among others were open, traders however stayed away from their shops.

    While some commercial banks at the time of this report were running skeletal services, some of the staff interviewed disclosed that they were open for business because they didn’t get official memo from their headquarters directing them to stay away from work today. Offices, shops along Okigwe, Azikiwe, kent, Market, Aba-Owerri roads respectively were however devoid of their usual hustling and bubbling.

    Police patrol vans were spotted stationed at Sameck by Faulks, Market road by Shopping Center and other strategic places in the commercial city.

    Read Also: IPOB: Sit-at-home fails in Enugu

    In a chat with a senior police officer in Abia State Police Command who pleaded not to be mentioned said that they were stationed at various flash points in Aba and other parts of the state in order to forestall any breakdown of law and order by any group of person who would want to capitalized on the IPOB sit-at-home to foment troubles or stop citizens of the state from going to their normal duties.

    Some members of the pro-Biafra group members who spoke to our reporter thanked the people and residents of Aba for complying with the orders of the group.

    The respondents, including Ifeanyi Okafor described the day as a day of sober reflection and also used the opportunity to call on world bodies including the United Nations to investigate the killings in Afaraukwu in 2017 by soldiers.

    Okafor said that no amount of intimidation from the federal government and security agencies would deter them from continuing with the peaceful agitation for the sovereign State of Biafra.

  • IPOB: Sit-at-home fails in Enugu

    The sit at home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra ( IPOB ) was a total failure in Enugu.

    Business and social activities were in top gear. All offices and banks were open for business.

    Contingent of the Nigeria Police were seen stationed at various strategic points ready for any ugly incident that might crop up.

    IPOB had ordered for the sit at home to mark the one year anniversary of the “invasion” of its leader’s home at Afar Umuahia, Abia state.

    A generator repairer at the New Layout, Enugu who simply gave his name as Okwudili ‎said why “I will not obey the order is that I have my children to feed and IPOB will not place any food on my table. ”

    IPOB’s sister organisation, the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Ralph Uwazuruike’s faction had earlier dissociated itself from the sit at home order and called on the people of South East and South South not to comply with the order.

    Chief Benjamin Ekwenugo, a member of the MASSOB-BIM elder council, spoke on behalf of Uwazurike during the commemoration of the 19th anniversary of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, by the Enugu West Zone of the group.

    ‎The MASSOB-BIM said such sit-at-home call was misplaced and not what Biafrans needed at the moment.

    “IPOB is on their own; what will they achieve with all these their sit-at-home order? We are coming out tomorrow; it is only today we have an activity in commemoration of Biafra struggle; there is nothing like people not coming out tomorrow.

    Read Also: Mixed feelings trail IPOB’s sit-at-home

    “I call on Ndigbo to ignore them and go about their businesses, unless someone that has nothing to do.

    “All these sit-at-home and the rest of them are of no use. Today, we are rejoicing because we are already have success in our Biafra struggle; we are only waiting for the official announcement.

    “We are today marking a journey of 19 years; it is not 19 days; already we are enjoying Biafra; I recall that when we started, it was almost criminal to mention the name Biafra, but it is no more like that. I was the Director for welfare, so, I know what I passed through then.

    “That is why those talking about restructuring are wasting their time. Let Ohanaeze and other proponents restructure themselves not Biafra. They can’t restructure Biafra for us, we are not Nigerians. Even if they do it tomorrow, it is an exercise in futility.”

  • Mixed feelings trail IPOB’s sit-at-home

    •Markets, banks boom in Aba

    Residents, visitors and shop owners in Aba and Umuahia, Abia State, have expressed mixed feelings over today’s sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    Some major markets in Aba witnessed a boom as people tried to make last minute shopping. Some commercial banks also witnessed high patronage, with customers saying they couldn’t risk going without cash during the long weekend.

    But an official of one of the banks, who pleaded for anonymity, said they were yet to receive official memo from their headquarters in Lagos asking them not to work today.

    According to him, they would be open for business in the morning but run skeletal services, and if nothing happens thereafter, they would begin normal banking activities.

    Some respondents hoped that security agencies would be able to arrest any situation that could lead to unrest or breach of peace.

    Mrs. Grace Okeke, a shopper at Cemetery market in Aba, said she came to shop ahead of the sit-at-home order.

    She said: “Tomorrow (today) is Friday and we can’t predict what will happen, which could affect opening of market on Saturday. So, I am being pro-active so as not to be caught in the web of any eventuality.”

    A market official said the market will be opened for business tomorrow (today) despite IPOB’s order.

  • Igbo groups endorse IPOB sit at home order

    Twelve Igbo groups met in Enugu Monday with an endorsement of the September 14th sit at home ordered by the IPOB.

    The meeting which held at the residence of the leader of Eastern Consultative Assembly (ECA) Chief (Mrs) Maria Okwor, was also attended by traditional rulers, traders associations, Youth groups and students organizations.

    Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the convener Mrs. Maria Okwor lamented the humiliation meted out to Igbo Women who were locked up in Owerri for expressing their opinions in a democracy.

    Read Also:Ohanaeze, Youth Group reacts to IPOB’s sit-at-home order

    She complained bitterly over the continuous ill treatment of Ndigbo as a conquered people.

    She called on Ndigbo to sit at home on Friday September 14th, to express “our frustrations with Nigeria.”

    She insisted that Nigeria must be returned to the 1963 constitution for the country to survive.

    Secretary of ECA and founder of Igbo Youth Movement, Evangelist Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko described the constant invasion of Igboland with military hardware every September as provocative and insulting.

    His words: “every September military equipment is moved menacingly into Igbo land just to remind us that we are a conquered people. Next, they will say some students threw stones at them and mayhem will be unleashed on our people. There’s no war going on here, there are no killings going on here. Igbo land is peaceful, why the invasion.

    “The soldiers should be drafted to Sambisa forest, Borno LGA’s where killings are going on every day. They should go to Plateau, Benue etc and save hapless citizens who are slaughtered daily, while the government is either blaming Lybians or telling middle beltans to surrender their land to the Herdsmen to save their lives.

    “Bringing so called python dance 3 to our peaceful region now is only designed to deliberately provoke a confrontation that will lead to loss of lives as they did last year.”

    Ugochukwu-Uko announced that the emergency meeting therefore asked all Ndigbo who are aggrieved over this endless provocative and humiliating invasion called python dance 3, to stay indoors on Friday September 14th to send a message to the world that we angry over this constant humiliation.

    The meeting also resolved to send a message to the United Nations that Nigeria will die if the structure is not returned to the 1963 constitution.

    The meeting also agreed to organize a street march in October to drive home their demand for a new constitution, asserting that the rigid unitary constitution designed by the military is an evil document.

  • Sit-at-home call grounds Enugu, Aba

    The sit-at-home call by outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to mark the “Biafra Day” yesterday recorded partial compliance in many cities in the Southeast.

    Many people stayed away from their business premises in Enugu and Aba but it was a flop in Imo and Ebonyi States.

    In Asaba, Delta State capital, and some parts of Port Harcout in Rivers State, compliance was partial.

    Major markets, government and public institutions in Aba closed for business in compliance with the order.

    Ariaria, Cemetery, Ahia Ohuru (New Market), Shopping Centre, Ehi road, Ama Ogbonna, Uratta, Afo Ule, Ahia Nkwo and other markets were devoid of their usual hustling and bubbling.

    Major roads, such as Azikiwe, Faulks, Okigwe, Asa, Port Harcourt, Aba-Owerri, Ikot Ekpene and Osisioma junction, and major motor parks witnessed a drop in traffic.

    Banks on Okigwe road, Aba-Owerri road  carried out skeletal operations; those on Faulks road and near Ariaria were closed.

    This is even as private and public school pupils stayed away from their schools.

    Although police patrol vans were sighted at the headquarters of the three local governments of Osisioma, Aba North and South, civil servants, in fear, stayed away despite a circular from the Head of Service, Sir Onyi Wamah, directing permanent secretaries to take staff attendance.

  • Sit-at-home: Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa police warn against use of force

    There is tension in Anambra State following today’s sit-at-home order by the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and Ingenious People of Biafra (IPOB).

    A tour round the city showed that Automated Teller Machine (ATM) points and markets were beseiged by residents wanting to stock their homes with foodstuff for the period of the sit-at-home.

    But the police have warned those who planned to disrupt the peace of the state to reconsider their stand as they are prepared to face any insurrection.

    Commissioner of Police Samuel Okaula urged the people not panic. He said security operatives were on ground to ensure they go about their normal businesses without fear.

    “We are on ground to maintain law and other. The situation is under control and there is no need to entertain any fear from any quarter.

    “My men will be patrolling every nook and cranny of the state tomorrow (today) to ensuring that people are not molested,” Okaula said.

    The Abia State Commissioner of Police, Leye Oyebade, said the command is ready to squash any attempt by anybody, or group, to cause trouble.

    Oyebade, who addressed reporters in Umuahia, said the fundamental rights of the people should not be trampled upon.

    According to him, nobody has the right to tell Abians to stay at home and not go about their lawful businesses, stressing that the constitution is very explicit on the freedom of association and movement.

    He said: “We have put in place all necessary machinery for the people to enjoy their democracy day holidays, and other days thereafter, as their security is assured at all times.”

    The police in Bayelsa have warned members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) against actions capable of disrupting public peace.

    It said it was collaborating with other security agencies to deal with anyone creating panic and fear under the guise of agitation.

    Commissioner of Police Asuquo Amba, who spoke through the spokesman, Butswat Asinim, urged Igbos and other residents to go about their routines without fear.

    The warning came following reports that circulars were being discreetly circulated in Yenagoa, the state capital, asking Igbo traders to observe a sit-at-home today.

    Asinim said the police and other security agencies would deploy operatives in flash points to curtail activities of miscreants.

    He said: “Concerning the agitation, the Bayelsa police command, in collaboration with other security agencies, have put in place a robust operation order to curtail activities of miscreants.

    “We will deploy anti-riot policemen to various locations in the town that may be considered as flash points. The  public should not fear but go about their lawful duties.

    Meanwhile, IPOB’s  National Publicity Secretary Emma Powerful, yesterday alerted that helicopters were deployed to monitor the home of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

    He called on the international community to prevail on the Federal Government to allow them observe their sit-at-home in commemoration of Biafra’s 50th anniversary.