Nonsochukwu Uwa, Owerri
The sit-at-home order declared by a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Monday grounded economic activities in Imo State.
Ikengaonline checks confirm that many streets in Owerri, the state capital, were empty on Monday.
The reason for the deserted streets might not be unconnected with the violence that greeted last week’s sit-at-home order.
Our reporter observed that banks, shops were completely shut as customers stayed away.
Movement of motorists was also limited and the roads were empty.
Some of the affected streets – Owerri-Aba road, Owerri-Port Harcourt, Owerri-Onitsha road among others, as at the time of filing this report, were a ghost of themselves.
The Mbari, Wethedral, Egbu, and the densely populated Orji roads experienced little or no activities.
Residents who spoke on the condition anonymity said they decided to stay home because of fear of attack by enforcers of the sit-at-home of the IPOB.
They complained bitterly about the adverse effects of the sit-at-home order on their businesses.
“This sit-at-home is now affecting our businesses. We are in pains. We need to stop this.
“Our security agencies must up their game to end the attacks by the enforcers of the sit-at-home order. We ask for the end to this sit-at-home order so that there will be security in the South-East region.”
