IPOB distance self from sit-at-home in S-East
Despite the success of the weekly directive, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, yesterday denied declaring a sit-at-home exercise for October 21 and 22 in any part of Igbo land over the incarceration of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kalu.
Commercial activities in most parts of the Southeast states were expectedly grounded, as schools, banks, markets, and other business centers did not open in most cities. Major roads were deserted, as combined teams of soldiers and police officers were observed patrolling major areas of the city.
The directive also recorded total compliance as the streets and roads were completely deserted, with human and vehicular traffic limited, just as students and pupils stayed at home as schools did not open for studies.
Most private schools had, before the weekend, reportedly communicated to their students and pupils that they would not be open for Monday and Tuesday. Banks also did not open to customers, while only a few street shops opened for business.
A police convoy comprising Armoured personnel carriers, APCs, and patrol vans with two SUVs suspected to be those of the Commissioner of Police were observed patrolling some major streets.
The city was, however, generally peaceful, as there was no incident of violence reported anywhere.
Meanwhile, IPOB has denied giving orders for any sit-at-home and urged people to ignore what it described as an obnoxious order from criminals working for the government to demonize IPOB.
Media and Publicity Secretary,IPOB, Emma Powerful, said Biafra people should understand that IPOB doesn’t force people to sit at home without cause.
He says,IPOB did not order for two days to sit at home, and we don’t want to talk about it, and we don’t want to create panic from inconsequential fellows. We didn’t want to write a press statement towards inconsequential orders from infiltrators.”