Governor Peter Mbah has threatened to close schools and shops in order to observe the one-week sit-in order issued by Simon Ekpa, the self-proclaimed factional leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).
On Tuesday, Enugu secretary to the state government Chidiebere Onyia indicated that the government was worried by Mr Ekpa’s letter to all Igbos on June 14, declaring a total lockdown from July 3 to 10, omitting July 6.
As a result, he issued a warning that any school that does not open and function normally on Tuesday will have its license revoked immediately. Mr Onyia went on to say that the government had issued the same warning to market unions and store owners.
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“The attention of the Enugu state government has been drawn to reports on social media this Tuesday morning that proprietors of private schools in the state are sending messages to their pupils and students to stay at home,” stated Mr Onyia. “All markets and shops in the various markets must be open to customers from today or be shut down indefinitely.”
Mr. Onyia reaffirmed the Enugu government’s determination to outlaw all types of illegal sit-at-home in the state, dubbing it evil and contrary to the principles they hold dear as a people, such as the Igbo spirit of industry, hard work, innovation, and productivity.
He asked the public to go about their regular lives because enough security measures had been put in place to protect lives and property.
“Government will no longer sit by and watch faceless groups and misguided individuals issue illegal orders, dictating to us how to lead our lives, when to go to work or market and when our children go to school,” Mr Onyia stressed. “This is no longer acceptable and must be confronted and defeated with every power and resources at our disposal.”
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He also claimed that the state government has warned that it will use all available legal tools, such as the Cybercrime Act 2015, to pursue and prosecute individuals, groups, and organizations who knowingly encourage the illegal sit-at-home order.
He stated that this includes people inciting terror in communities, issuing false alarms to disrupt public order, and spreading falsehoods related to the illegal sit-at-home order on social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and Twitter.
“This, however, is by no means depriving citizens freedom of speech and information as enshrined in the constitution,” Mr Onyia explained.
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