Reports say that there were multiple attacks by armed persons suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) enforcing the controversial sit-at-home order across Nigeria’s Southeast region.
Also, there were indications that the residents of the region might be forced to observe a four-day lockdown from Monday following Kanu’s resumed treason trial.
Many residents of the five states in the region – Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, Abia and Imo, on Monday, complied with the controversial sit-at-home as roads were deserted. Many banks and filling stations did not also open for business.
On Monday, The Nation newspaper reported that masked gunmen suspected to be members of IPOB, attacked Obollo-Afor town in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria’s South-east, and dispersed residents who opened their shops for business. They also burnt a tricycle of a resident and a Sienna vehicle belonging to a vigilante group, Udenu Central Neighbourhood Watch, in the attack, the paper had said.
There are reports that unknown gunmen attacked Amauke and Ogrute communities in Enugu Ezike, Igbo-Eze North Local government Area, Enugu State snatching a motorcycle from an unidentified cyclist and breaking the head of another resident.
On Tuesday, roads remained empty across many parts of the South-east. Banks and filling stations were also shut as residents continued observing the sit-at-home order declared by the IPOB group
“I dey go home. My fuel don finish and filling stations no open,” a commercial bus driver in Enugu said when asked if he was fully out for work.
However, some youth suspected to be members of IPOB invaded a Catholic church in Onitsha, Anambra State, Tuesday.
Daily Post reported that the thugs, armed with clubs, invaded the church while the morning mass was on. They demanded an explanation from the presiding priest on why he was holding service on the day Mr Kanu was scheduled to appear in court.
In Imo State, residents, especially of Orlu town and Owerri Municipal, on Tuesday, stayed indoors to observe the sit-at-home order. Daily Post also reported that the state secretariat, motor parks, schools, banks, shops and markets across the major cities were all shut down.
“The lockdown is not completely observed here; (although) filling Stations, banks are not open but in International Market Abakaliki, some of the shops are open,” Solomon Alegu, a resident of Abakaliki, the Ebony State capital, told this paper on Tuesday.
In Umuahia, the Abia State capital, the compliance to the order was total as residents remained indoors. Vanguard reported that from the morning hours, economic activities were paralyzed in the area as markets and street shops remained closed.
IPOB, a group agitating for the creation of the state of Biafra from the South-east and South-south, has been linked to deadly attacks in the two regions. Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the secessionist group, is currently being tried for alleged treason.
As Mike Ozekhome SAN takes over as his lead counsel, Mr Nnamdi Kanu appeared before Justice Binta Nyako of the federal high court in Abuja on Tuesday.
Ozekhome, SAN, drew the attention of the Judge to the treatment his client was being subjected to in the custody of the DSS despite an order by Justice Nyako for the DSS to allow the IPOB leader to practise his faith, have his bath, change his clothes and eat properly.
Responding, Justice Nyako said: “I don’t want to see him in these clothes again. This one is almost off-white. Also, make sure that you allow him to exercise.”
Kanu’s trial continues on Wednesday.