Business activities were totally paralysed on Monday in Owerri, Imo State, in full compliance with the sit-at-home order issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
But unlike Owerri, the exercise recorded zero compliance in Umuahia as residents ignored the order and went about their normal businesses.
In Aba, however, there was partial compliance as residents moved around freely on the streets, but the major markets were closed.
Ikengaonline visited some areas in Owerri, the Imo State capital, and found out that residents were indoors.
Some residents told our correspondent that they decided to remain indoors to stay out of the trouble usually associated with the sit-at-home exercise.
Major streets like Wethedral Road, Egbu Road, Akwakuma, Amakohia, Okigwe and Onitsha roads were all ghosts of themselves.
Similarly, Port Harcourt and Aba roads were all deserted. Some motorists seen on the road were driving in empty vehicles as there were no passengers on the streets.
The major markets in Owerri, including the Relief and Eke Ukwu Owerri were all shut. Banks also did not open for business. Supermarkets, filling stations, and schools remained closed. Some hotels apparently out of fear of the unknown had to close the entrance gates to their premises.
There were no reports of any violence or clash between security agents and enforcers of the exercise.
In Aba, Ikengaonline gathered that only the major markets were closed but street markets and shops were open.
There were also vehicular movements on the roads as motorists especially tricycle operators had a field day without molestations unlike in previous exercises. Banks and schools, however, did not open for business in the Enyimba commercial city.
In Umuahia, the state capital, the situation was entirely different as business and commercial activities went on uninterrupted.
The roads were busy. Banks also operated fully while markets and motor parks were all open for business. Some private schools, however, had placed on their notice boards last week that they would not open on Monday, but majority of others were open.
There were no reports of any clash with enforcers of the sit-at-home order.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which initially gave the order to protest the extraordinary rendition of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has since suspended the order, but some hoodlums have occasionally attacked people in some parts of the South-East for non-compliance.
