IPOB closes businesses, roads empty in Anambra, Enugu

On May 30, 1967, Dim Emeka Odimegwu Ojukwu declared the entire eastern region, the Republic of Biafra.

His declaration sparked a bloody civil war in Nigeria two months later.

The war began on July 6, 1967 and ended on January 15, 1970.

The eastern region suffered the most casualties--by most accounts, over one million persons lost their lives in eastern and southern Nigeria.

The Igbos who occupy the eastern region of Nigeria, lost property as well by the time the war was declared a "no vanquished, no victor" situation by then Head of State Yakubu Gowon.

Since the rise of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu a couple of years ago, May 30 has been observed as a sit-at-home day in Nigeria's south east region; to commemorate the day Ojukwu declared the region a separate republic from the Nigerian State in the '60s.

It's been 50 years since the deadliest war in Nigeria's history.

Pulse has been driving round most of the States in Nigeria's south east region, and we can report that the sit-at-home order is well and fully underway today.

In Enugu, a couple of banks have been shut to customers.

Our correspondents in the South east noticed that the First Bank branch along Presidential Road, Enugu, is shut today.

An employee of the bank told Pulse that the branch received a directive from its head office in Lagos, not to open shop today.

Calls to the corporate affairs unit of the First Bank head office in Lagos for a confirmation, have been unanswered at the time of filing this.

sent an email to First Bank as well, but an auto-response outlined that we'll have to wait 24 hours for a response.

Respondents also report that some Sterling and Ecobank branches in Enugu, are also shuttered.

Most petrol dispensing stations in Enugu have also been shut to clients.

Peace Mass Transit at Okpara Avenue in Enugu, often mills with passengers, hawkers and touts. The transport company is wearing a ghost look today, Pulse can report.

"The which is usually as busy as market in Lagos, has little or no activities going on there today", our correspondent reports from the Coal City.

in Okpara Avenue is closed and people are standing outside", another of Pulse' correspondent reports.

Enquiries to all three banks mentioned above, hadn't been treated by their respective corporate affairs departments at the time of filing this.

Our drive around Anambra also reveals that the streets are bare, the Onitsha market which lies just after the Niger bridge is free of vehicular movement and most of Anambra is eerie and quiet.

Around the South east, mission schools are also not open to pupils and students.

Most respondents who spoke to attribute the people's compliance with the sit-at-home order in all South eastern States, to a morbid fear of the unknown.

"People are afraid that if they open their shops for business, they'll be victimized or have their shops looted by miscreants", said Ikenna (not real name). "A lot of persons are just scared that should they venture out to their places of work, they could become victims of overzealous IPOB or MASSOB disciples".

Schools are closed in Awka; notably the Nnamdi Azikiwe University which is sprawled along the Enugu-Onitsha expressway.

"Even commercial motorbikes aren't ready to do business today", said Ebuka, who resides in Awka.

In Imo and Ebonyi, most businesses will count their losses as well today, has been told by eyewitness reporters.

The situation is not very different in Umuahia, the Abia State capital.

On Monday, May 29, 2017, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Chris Okey Ezeike, asked residents in Nigeria's South eastern States of Anambra, Ebonyi, Abia, Enugu and Imo not to obey the sit-at-home directive of IPOB and MASSOB.

The police also promised to clamp down on protesters who intend to foment trouble on Biafra commemoration day.

"The attention of the Imo State Police Command has been drawn to the statements, claims, publications and posts circulating in the social media by groups who claim to be representing the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and Biafra Independence Movement (BIM), directing law abiding citizens and innocent Nigerians to sit at home on May 30, 2017 in remembrance of the struggle for Biafra independence", Ezeike said in a statement that was made available to Pulse.

"These publications are not only inciting but represent an unpatriotic and hostile propaganda against the sovereignty of the Nigerian state,’’ the police boss declared.

MASSOB leader, Uchenna Madu, had boasted that the sit-at-home “will witness tremendous compliance of people.”

“We are not going to harass anybody who wishes to open her shop or do any business. All we are saying is that, we will be surprised to see shops and businesses open because our people are in serious support of the cause we are pursuing,” Madu said.

At an event put together to discuss the civil war last week, Nigeria's acting president Yemi Osinbajo said Nigeria is "still greater together than apart".

"Let me make it clear that I fully believe that Nigerians should exercise to the fullest extent the right to discuss or debate the terms of our existence. Debate and disagreement are fundamental aspects of democracy. We recognize and acknowledge that necessity", Osinbajo said.

ALSO READ: Acting president warns Biafra agitators

Osinbajo added that: "Today, some are suggesting that we must go back to the ethnic nationalities from which Nigeria was formed. They say that secession is the answer to the charges of marginalization. They argue that separation from the Nigerian State will ultimately result in successful smaller States. They argue eloquently, I might add, that Nigeria is a colonial contraption that cannot endure.

"This is also the sum and substance of the agitation for Biafra. The campaign is often bitter and vitriolic, and has sometimes degenerated to fatal violence. Brothers and sisters permit me to differ and to suggest that we’re greater together than apart".

IPOB leader, Kanu, who was recently granted bail with some very strict conditions--which included sections outlining that he shouldn't address an audience or incite violence--has flouted some of those conditions.

Kanu recently declared before a crowd that the Biafra struggle will continue and that on Biafra he stood.

"The mission and the values of IPOB are very simple: to restore Biafra, to make sure Biafra comes by whatever means possible," Kanu said.

The Nigerian military increased its presence in South east Nigeria ahead of today's Biafra commemoration in order to forestall a breakdown of law and order, according to the Deputy Director, Public Relations, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Col. Sagir Musa.