The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Friday declared the sit-at-home protest which it ordered for yesterday to press home its demand for the release of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, a success.

Addressing journalists in Awka, the Anambra State capital, Media and Publicity secretary of IPOB, Comrade Emma Powerful congratulated the people of Biafra worldwide as well as friends and lovers of freedom all over the world for their support towards what he described as the successful sit-at-home order and successful protests recorded around the globe in solidarity for the release of Nnamdi Kanu.

He said: “The protest took place in all the continent of the world, Europe, America, South America, Australia, some Asian and African countries.

“Countries that witnessed protests are USA, Brazil, Canada, Isreal, Germany, Finland, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Spain, Kuwait, Italy UK, Portugal, Malaysia, UAE, Mexico, Senegal, Kenya, Ghana, Egypt, Gabon, Togo, Sweden, Denmark, China, Scandinavian, South Africa and other countries which I cannot mention here.

“Here in Biafra land, Abia, Anambra, Imo, Delta, Enugu, Abia, Rivers Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, etc were shut down in solidarity with the quest for the restoration of Biafra.”

The sit home order was issued last Tuesday. Expectations of violence or clashes between IPOB members and security operatives were rife but such expectations fizzled out late Friday morning. The exercise was generally peaceful as no protests or violence was recorded.

News Express observed that private and public schools in Awka and Onitsha were shut.

While some banks in Awka shut their doors from customers, others like Diamond Bank, UBA went about their normal business though not much crowd was seen as usual.

Anambra State capital, Awka was partially robust with activities, the commercial city of Onitsha had a different scenario as traders and bankers complied to the order.

As at the early hours of the morning, all the markets in Onitsha were closed down from business as well as banks.

Customers who went out early to do some banking transaction were shut out while those who had their ATM cards, made their withdrawals with it.

However, the sit-at-home protest witnessed poor compliance in Abia State. Civil servants defied the directive and reported for duties while businessmen went about their normal transactions as they opened their shops to the public.

News Express gathered that Ubani Market, Timber market, Orie Ugba as well as Isi Gate markets in Umuahia were in full session as business activities went on smoothly without any hiccups.

Reports from Aba, the hub of commercial activities, indicated that everywhere was calm as people went about their normal businesses without qualms.

It was gathered that the Ehere market in Obingwa, the Bakassi Shoe Plaza and Ariria market, all in Aba, opened for business. Sources at Aba said soldiers were patrolling the city to avert any eventuality.

However, another source in Aba said there was partial compliance in the city as traffic was light and only few traders reported for business at Ariaria market.

He said that those who came for routine transactions discovered to their dismay that the usual crowd was lacking and were forced to retreat to their homes.

Many told our reporter that they could not participate in the protest because of the harsh economic realities but said they identified with IPOB in spirit, while appealing to the Federal Government to, not only release Kanu but restructure Nigeria along the line of true federalism.

Others argued that the protest would have been effective if it was called by the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafran (MASSOB).

The Abia State Police Public Relations Officer, Ogbonnaya Nta, dismissed the IPOB directive as non-existent, saying that all was well in Abia.

“There is nothing like IPOB protest in Abia, everywhere is calm,” Nta told News Express in a telephone interview.

The sit at home order was partially adhered to as most residents especially civil servants went about their work but schools were shut.

•Photo by Pamela Eboh shows people moving about their normal day to day activities at the popular Aroma junction in Awka.

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