South East grounded as residents sit at home for Biafra Day

Reports from reaching Hanto Daily News desk say Schools and businesses across the Southeast states of the country were largely shut down in compliance with the directives from pro Biafra groups in commemoration of May 30, Biafra Day.

Banks and financial institutions in Umuahia, Aba, Owerri and Enugu were not open for business as usual for fear of attacks.

In most of the cities, there were total compliance in the early hours of the day but this eased late in the morning in Owerri, Imo State where people summoned courage to move to places of interest and public officers.

However, there was total compliance in Orlu and Okigwe with commercial and all forms of activities under lockdown.

In Umuahia and Aba, government offices remained closed and as was revealed a some security guards Manning some private schools, parents were warned against bringing their children to school.

The ever busy City centre of Umuahia known as Isi gate and the Aba – Owerri road to faults and East areas of the commercial nerve centre were deserted.

However, the story was different in Abakiliki where residents were said to have refused complying and headed to their different areas of daily activities.

In Enugu, reports say there was cautious movement by residents though most public places were not bubbling with activities as usual.

Recall, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had announced the sit-at-home order in the Southeast states, which it explained is aimed at honouring the Biafran soldiers who died during the cause of the civil war.

The group In a statement endorsed by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, the IPOB pointed out that sit-at-home to prevent would prevent hoodlums from hijacking the celebration and advised bodies like the West African Examination Council (WAEC) to ensure that exams fixed on the said date are rescheduled to secure school children.