IPOB: Awka Residents Disobeys Order As Onitsha, Nnewi Comply

Residents of Awka, the Anambra state capital, on Thursday, shunned the order by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for them to sit at home to honor those who were killed during the Nigeria/Biafra civil war.

A news correspondent, who drove around the capital city of Awka, observed that there was movement in the town, both vehicular and human, just as public places were open for business.

Though it was gathered that some schools in the town did not open, most of the schools visited were in full session, with students and teachers engaging in academic activities.

Eke Awka market, one of the biggest markets in the town was also in session, even though the number of traders and customers in the market were limited as compared to what was usually the case.

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A market leader, who refused to disclose his identity, said the state government handed specific instructions to market leaders to ensure that the markets were opened but said the reason for its scanty nature may have been fear of attacks from the IPOB members.

Banks were also open, just as a visit to the state secretariat showed that work was in full session, with workers milling around the complex.

Meanwhile, the story was different in the commercial city of Onitsha and the industrial town of Nnewi, as a news agency gathered that the towns were totally shut down.

In Onitsha, it was gathered that no market was open, just as the usually busy streets were a ghost of themselves.

The Onitsha Niger bridge was also said to have been shut to avoid exit or entry into the town.

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In Nnewi, almost all the industries were closed from morning hours till noon, just as the roads remained scanty.

A source in Nnewi told our correspondent that, “What we have in Nnewi is total compliance. I’m afraid, people complied strictly to the order by IPOB. I think they achieved this by driving fear into the minds of the people when it was rumored that some people who ventured out as early as 6 am were attacked.”