Following the Sit-at-Home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) in commemoration of the people who died during the civil war of 1967-1970 and the struggles to actualise the State of Biafra, residents of Awka, Anambra State complied to the order, paralysing economic and social activities in the state capital.

There was also, total compliance on the part of civil servants, commercial bus operators, tricycles (Keke) as well as commercial motorcycle riders (Okada).

All markets, banks and schools, including those in the rural areas were also closed as roads were totally deserted.

Movement was restricted until about 11am when some commercial vehicles and motorcycles began to ply the roads while few shops also opened.

Some banks that shut their doors began to attend to customers at about 12 noon, while few civil servants who made it to their places of work started leaving after few hours of no activities.

However, most of the Anambra State civil servants residing in Enugu could not make it to Awka as there were no vehicles to convey them.

There were no security operatives in some parts of Awka as some people who came out later in the day gathered in clusters discussing the success of the order. To many of them, the objective of the order had been achieved. Some commended what they described as the doggedness of the IPOB Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, for being able to mobilise for the event.

Speaking on the outcome, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sam Okaula, who moved round the state, directed his men not to disturb anybody.

He advised people to either stay at home or go about their normal businesses as nobody would molest them.

The commercial city of Onitsha was equally a dead zone as both markets and shops remained closed with people staying indoors to mark the day.

In a chat with News Express, Mr. John Igboeli, a civil servant said the Sit-at-Home order was a huge success. In his words, “I least expected the order to turn out like this but I think the observance was borne out of fear and not compliance.

“I came out just to know what is happening because I know the state secretariat will be deserted today. For me, today marks the beginning of a good journey.

“The organisers must be feeling elated and I commend the security operatives for their comportment throughout the period.”

An okada rider, Mr. Ikechukwu Obi, said that he supports what Nnamdi Kanu is doing.

“We need this freedom from the clutches of the power at the centre. I am a graduate, yet I don’t have a job and I resorted to riding Okada to make ends meet.

“The Igbo have been treated like outcasts for long and it is time we rise up and seek our independence. I came out by 12 noon when my friend called me to say people have started coming out. My prayer is that this dream of a Biafran nation will be actualised one day,” he stated.

Update news