Contrary to claims that the sit at home order given by members of the Independent Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) to the South East states and other Igbo speaking states to stay at home Friday would be stopped, the order was actually enforced.
In Abia, Enugu, Anambra, Imo and Ebonyi, reports said traders obeyed the IPOB directives, leaving the markets deserted.
Also, indigenes of the states stayed home while pupils and students were sent back home by their school authorities.
In Owerri the capital of Imo stae pupils and students of primary and secondary schools were seen returning home when it became obvious there were no teachers to teach them.
In Enugu, major streets were reported deserted, and residents staying home.
The Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mohammed Danmallam, however said: “I am glad to say that the good people of Enugu State came out in their usual large numbers to conduct their daily businesses.
“I have gone round everywhere even to Isiuzo Local Government Council Area and the report from my Area Commanders in Nsukka, Oji River is that normal human and vehicular activities were ongoing.
“We are not leaving anything to chance and we will ensure that no Nigerian is intimidated or molested by faceless hoodlums,’’ he said.
On Friday morning, at about 8.30 am and 9.03am, Vanguard noted that the entry and exit of Niger bridge (Onitsha end and Asaba end) were deserted by vehicular and human movement.
In Ebonyi, as early as 6am, commercial activities and vehicular movements were on in the state as there were no reported cases of harassment, molestation and victimization on violators of the sit-at-home order by IPOB members.
Shops at the popular meat market and other adjourning stores and supermarkets within the metropolis were all booming with commercial activities including banks. Unlike other times were banking activities are usually partial, this time around all banks within Abakaliki were opened to customers.
Prior to the commencement sit-at-home order, security personnel including the army and police were seen patrolling the state capital to ensure the safety of lives and property of indigenes of the state.
Deserted River Niger bridge in Onitsha
Government had threatened to stop the exercise and arrest of the members if they went ahead to enforce the stay at home order.
The army also detailed its Operation Python Dance to the zone in anticipation the exercise would hold.
The governors of the South East states had earlier warned against the order, but the organisers insisted it must go on as a way of honouring their fallen heroes and sensitizing the public about the whereabout of their leader, Nnamdi Kalu.