Some members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Monday, hoisted “Biafra” flag at Upper-Iweka, Onistha, the commercial nerve of Anambra state.
The jubilating IPOB members, who were observing sit-at-home order proclaimed by their leader, Nnamdi Kanu in honour of departed Biafra soldiers and others allegedly killed by Nigerian security men, were also seen with Biafra flags and other insiginias, chanting solidarity songs.
Blueprint reports that the youth occupied the popular Onistha-Owerri road and Onitsha-Enugu road, claiming they had achieved “Biafra independence”, and no Nigerian would ever access ” Biafra land without obtaining Visas” and other important documentations from them.
The sit-at-home recorded total compliance in major parts of Anambra State as markets, banks, schools, shops, and other public, government and private institutions were shutdown in Awka, Onitsha, Ekwulobia, Nnewi, Ihiala, amongst other places.
Similarly, trunks A, B and C roads including streets were empty although few people were spotted either trekking to their destinations due to lack of public transportations or playing footballs, even as others sat in groups listening to the radio broadcast of their IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
Also, apart from Onistha, there were no presence of Eastern Security Network (ESN), an arm of IPOB on roads to enforce the order as ‘decreed’ by Kanu, as fully armed Nigerian security men were at strategic locations like Anambra state government house, governor’s lodge, Aroma junction, Unizik junction, to name a few others, to possibly forestall breakdown of law and order.
Speaking to Blueprint, a trader, Mr Ikechukwu Ozoemena, said the break aimed at honouring Biafrans murdered at the civil war, as well as those killed by different ‘Nigerian security men.’
Ozoemena, who expressed happiness that the sit at home order witnessed ‘huge success,’ suggested that it should be carried out annually until “Biafra independence” is achieved.
But a civil servant, Mr Emmanuel Enuka, argued that the “success” recorded by the sit at home order were because people of the South East geopolitical zone were frustrated by their various States governments, including joblessness, and others.
