By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Students writing this year’s May/June West African Examination Council exams on Thursday braved the sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to go sit for their Mathematics 1&2 exams in Awka by disguising as water fetchers.

Information has it that students were seen wearing plain clothes as they made their ways into their various schools to sit for the exams out of fear of attacks by enforcers.

Recall that IPOB had earlier written a letter to the WAEC boss in the state urging that the exams for May 30th be shifted to a future date warning that they (WAEC) would be held responsible if students faced any mishap in the course of going for the exams on a sit-at-home day

Though Anambra State Police Command had waved the threat of mayhem for defaulters of the order by IPOB, residents of Awka stayed out of the road and business for the better part of the day.

Most students especially candidates sitting for the examination at Igwebuike Grammar School Awka and St John’s School, Amemyi Awka were seen as early as 7.45am wearing plain clothes as a way to apparently disguise as they entered into their schools for the examination.

Some of them were seen carrying empty gallons pretending to be seen as going to fetch water only to make swift entry into the school. Some girls were also seen carrying buckets on their head like they were going to fetch water but took a diversion to their schools were they changed into their school uniforms.

Meanwhile, Gates of Igwebuike Grammar School were locked with only one little entrance opened for students to come in.

A gateman at Igwebuike Grammar School, Awka who spoke on condition of anonymity said students who came from far places where the sit at home order was much obeyed were mostly the students who wore mufti clothes to school.

He said: “They are afraid, some of them are coming from far places and that is why you see them wearing mufti so when they come inside the school, they’ll change into the school uniform.

“Some of these girls you see carrying buckets on their heads are all candidates sitting for the exams. That buckets on their heads contain their school uniform, when they get to their school they will change into their uniforms. They did this to disguise because of fear”

A parent who brought her son on motorcycle to Igwebuike Grammar School, Awka, Mrs. Ngozi Madichie, expressed sadness over the situation, saying that the situation will affect the students’ performance in the subject.

She added: “The psychological effect of the order would affect the performance of the students in the subject.

“These children are already agitated, some of them may even miss this subject because of fear and those who eventually make it to the hall will be psychologically down and it will surely affect the results.”

On his part a teacher at the school who also pleaded anonymity said the whole issue will definitely affect the results of the students in the entire South East.

“It is terrible and my fear is that it is mathematics that they are taking today. Of all the subjects, it is today that these children are sitting for mathematics that this rubbish is coming up. Mathematics is not a subject you can toy with, it requires total concentration and calm, but see as these children have been jolted and see the fears in their eyes, it will surely lead to mass failure in mathematics across the region,” he said.

However, the Anambra State Police Command said it has taken cognizance of the activities of criminal elements disseminating, threatening voice-overs and violent videos in an attempt to enforce illegal sit-at-home directives and instill fear among the residents of Anambra state.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Toochukwu Ikenga, in a press release said it was imperative to inform the public that actionable intelligence indicated that individuals enforcing the order fabricated threatening voice-over recordings and circulated outdated videos of violent incidents, some of which did not occur within the state or even the country.

He said: “The Command is fully aware of these secessionist’s activities and urge the law-abiding citizens of Anambra to disregard such propaganda. Rest assured, the Police, along with other security agencies, have mobilized law enforcement resources to ensure the safety and security of every citizen in the state.

“As a recent example, on May 29, 2024, at approximately 2:00 PM, Police operatives laid an ambush on miscreants along Oba flyover in Idemili South. This led to the interception of a gang of four armed men operating on motorbikes.

“During the encounter, one miscreant was apprehended, while the other three managed to evade capture, sustaining bullet injuries in the process. The operatives recovered a locally made Barreta pistol, four expended cartridges, two phones, and incriminating evidence indicative of unpatriotic and disloyal behavior towards the Nigerian government”

“In light of these developments, the Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, assures the people of Anambra State that their safety remains the utmost priority of the Police Command.”

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