The May 30, 2019, Sit-at-Home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) may have achieved total compliance in Anambra State, as most cities in the state became deserted.

Areas where total compliance was recorded include Onitsha, Ekwulobia and Nnewi, while the capital city of Awka was alive with its usual hustle and bustle from about 10:00a.m.

However, the exercise order turned bloody at Nnewi following the attack of two Catholic priests.

Information gathered by News Express has it that the priests were on their way to the morning mass when they were attacked and wounded at different points by alleged pro-Biafra groups who stormed the industrial community to ensure total compliance to the Sit-at-Home order.

According to a source, the two cars belonging to the priests were also vandalised.

Confirming the report, the Secretary to the Bishop, Rev. Fr. Celestine Okonkwo, said his colleague in charge of St. Buses Parish was attacked and wounded by the agitators.

He said he was attacked by the Pro-Biafra agitators while on his way to the first Mass of Ascension for his parish.

It was further learnt that the pro-Biafra members also attacked a vehicle with registration number CL 163 BEN, Toyota saloon car at Nnewi Roundabout, smashing the window and rear screens of the vehicle.

The source said that some of the occupants were seriously wounded in the process even as they abandoned their travelling bags inside the car while trying to escape.

Similar event took place at NITEL Junction where a patrol van with Reg No. AWK 750 BF belonging to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) operatives was grounded and the occupants attacked.

Unconfirmed reports had it that four of the operatives were fatally wounded and two riffles snatched from them.

Some market women were said to have also been equally attacked and their monies stolen in the early hours allegedly by the pro-Biafra group who were milling around the city from wee hours to ensure full compliance.

The agitators who, clinical in their approach, were able to escape from those scenes before the arrival of a combined team of the Police, Civil Defence, DSS and Army that was seen intermittently patrolling the town.

Apart from the early hours attacks, there was total compliance to the stay at home order as all markets, banks, schools and every office in Nnewi remained closed.

As of the time of filing this report, two of the NDLEA staff members who were earlier attacked were said to have died.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Haruna Mohammed, on his part denied knowledge of the activities, saying that the Sit-at-Home order by IPOB has not gained acceptance by the public in Anambra State.

He said: “People have opened for business activities and going about their legitimate businesses.

“The combined security forces are patrolling all the nooks and crannies in the state in order to provide adequate security to Ndi Anambra and ensure that there is no breach of public peace in the state.”

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