Yolamchi Ukaga, Aba
Aba, the commercial hub of Abia state, remained a ghost town today, Monday, September 20, 2021, as business operators and other residents stayed away from the markets and other public places, despite the cancellation of the “sit-at-home order” by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
IPOB had, in a press statement by Emma Powerful, its spokesman, explained that it had suspended the ghost Mondays it earlier declared because of the economic implications to the people of the South-East.
However, this appeal went on deaf ears, as Aba residents remained indoors in continuation of the cancelled sit-at-home protest.
Orient Daily checks revealed that all major markets, including Ariaria International Market, motor parks commercial banks did not open for service.
Some of the respondents that spoke with our correspondent, including Chukwu Eugene, attributed the continued sit-at-home in Aba to fear and urged the Abia state government and security agencies in the state to assure residents of their safety, while carrying out their business activities.
He alleged that hoodlums disguised as enforcers of the sit-at-home exercise to rob innocent people, consequently forcing people to stay indoors on Mondays to avoid attack.
IPOB in the statement noted that there would be no other sit-at-home order after Tuesday, September 14, 2021, noting that anybody trying to enforce any sit-at-home order using its name was a saboteur and would be treated as such.
The group stated that any other purported sit-at-home, including the suspended weekly sit-at-home on Mondays did not exist in its diary.
Reacting to several complaints on the activities of hoodlums whom many residents tagged members of IPOB, who go about harassing people on Mondays, IPOB said that such people will henceforth face their wrath.
“If we catch anybody disturbing the peace of Biafrans or residents in Biafra land under the guise of enforcing non-existent sit-at-home order, such a person will regret his actions, because he will receive the reward of a traitor.
“IPOB is a responsible organisation with reasoning and empathy. We cannot be part of the problem we are trying to solve. We cannot join the enemies to compound the woes of the people we are fighting to liberate.
“That was why we suspended the ghost Mondays that we earlier declared, because of the economic implications to our people. We listened to appeals by the people and reviewed our stance on the matter then.
“That was why we reduced the sit-at-home protests to the days our leader, Nnamdi Kanu will be making appearances in court. That is enough for now and we stand by it.
“Anybody trying to impose another sit-at-home order on our people or enforce illegal or imaginary sit-at-home is not an IPOB member and must be dealt with.
“Such a person(s) are working with the enemies to disrepute IPOB, and we won’t tolerate such stupidity”, according to IPOB.