Businesses, including markets, schools, banks and motor parks were on Thursday closed in Anambra State, in honour of the Biafra Remembrance Day announced by the secessionist group, Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB).
The ever busy Enugu-Onitsha expressway as at 9am was devoid of human and vehicular movements; popular motor parks around Onitsha, the commercial hub of the state and Awka, state capital were also deserted.
Traders stayed away from the popular Onitsha Main Market and other markets in the environs.
Investigations also revealed that at Nnewi, another commercial city in the state, the situation was even worse as residents remained indoors.
There have been lots of messages circulating on the social media, and purported to be coming from IPOB members, threatening anyone who dares to leave their house on May 30. This, it was gathered, may be the reason for the total compliance to the sit-at-home order declared by the group.
A statement by the spokesperson of the state Police command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga stated: “The Command is fully aware of secessionists activities and urges law-abiding citizens of Anambra to disregard such propaganda.
“As a recent example, on May 29, 2024, at approximately 2:00 pm, police operatives laid an ambush on miscreants along Oba flyover in Idemili South.
“This led to the interception of a gang of four armed men operating on motorbikes. During the encounter, one miscreant was apprehended, while the other three managed to evade arrest, sustaining bullet injuries in the process.
“The operatives recovered a locally made Barreta pistol, four expended cartridges, two phones, and incriminating evidence indicative of unpatriotic and disloyal behavior towards the Nigerian government.
“Rest assured, the police, along with other security agencies, have mobilised law enforcement resources to ensure the safety and security of every citizen in the state.”
The command also circulated hotlines for residents of the state to reach out to the police in the case of any violence in their area.
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