By PAMELA EBOH, Awka, NDUKA EZEOGU, Aba

The weekly sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) which commenced today, Monday, August 9, 2021, has turned bloody in the industrial city of Nnewi in Anambra State as two people are killed in a confrontation between the Army and suspected members of IPOB.

In nearby Imo State, the morning was hot, with three buses and a Toyota Sienna burnt in the Nkwogwu Mbaise axis reportedly with some passengers inside the vehicles.

This is even as parts of Aba, the commercial nerve centre of Abia State, and Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, were shut down by the exercise ordered by IPOB and meant to be conducted every Monday until the group’s arrested leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is released from detention in the Nigerian capital, Abuja.

In Nnewi, the confrontation which happened at Izuchukwu roundabout area took the life of an alleged Eastern Security Network (ESN) leader and a commercial motorcylist.

An witness claimed that problem started at about 7:00 a.m. when some IPOB members came out to enforce the sit-at-home order and in the process blocked the major roads in the industrial town.

The source said: “Some unidentified soldiers came to clear the items used to block the roads leading to altercation between them and the IPOB members.

“The two victims were actually killed by gun shots by the unknown soldiers.”

Some vehicles were also smashed by aggrieved persons over the attack on the civilians by armed soldiers.

Meanwhile, the industrial city has been reduced to a ghost town as the people who initially came out for their daily business had to rush back home.

At the time of filing this report, a combined team of security agencies had stormed the town to disperse protesters.

In his reaction, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, said: “I can confirm to you that there was an incident in Nnewi roundabout, police operatives are currently there but the details are still sketchy.

“Meanwhile the situation is being monitored and further information will communicated.”

In Aba, soldiers were seen patrolling major streets as early as 6:30 a.m. At the ever-busy Asa, Azikiwe, Aba-Owerri, Ogbor Hill and Ohanku roads, the streets were deserted as nobody wanted to confront the dreaded ESN volunteers who were detailed to enforce full compliance of the sit-at-home order.

Not even a single shop or business premises was open in the major streets of Aba as at the time of filing this report.

Today’s lockdown is somehow different compared to previous sit-at-homes, as there are no playing of football by youths in town.

Similarly, Abakaliki was shut down as a result of the IPOB order. Schools, shops, banks and other businesses in the city remained under lock at the time of filling this report.

However, some cars, commercial tricycles and motorcycles were operating in major streets and roads in the city.

Some security agents were seen in their vans on patrol of major streets while residents were seen in clusters discussing the situation.

Students writing the National Examination Council (NECO) exams were seen going to school in the morning.

Workers of some businesses, who reported to work, found their offices under lock and key.

Parks of major transport companies also did not load as at the time of this report.

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