By Tony Icheku 


Residents of Awka and Umuahia, respectively capital cities of Anambra and Abia  States obeyed the sit-at-home orders of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), paralysing economic and social activities  despite assurances from the respective Police Commands for them to go about their businesses.


The story was the same in Owerri, Imo State capital and it's major towns like Okigwe and Orlu. In Enugu and Ebonyi States, the IPOB orders also paralysed businesses and other socio-economic activities as residents kept to their homes 


Dailyledger.com.ng reports that IPOB had announced May 30 as 'Heroes Day' in commemoration of Igbos who made the supreme sacrifice during the Nigeria-Biafra Civil War. To celebrate the day, Thursday, May 30 was declared a sit-at-home strictly forbidding residents from going about their normal routine.


A video circulating on the social media alleged that unknown gunmen enforcing the sit-at-orders allegedly shot and killed some officers of the Nigerian Army before setting their SUV vehicle ablaze in Aba. The incident could not be confirmed by relevant authorities as at time of publication.


The Imo State Police Command on Wednesday had advised residents to ignore  the three-day sit-at-home order IPOB as the State's  Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye described  the order as “unlawful”, adding  that the State's Commissioner of Police, Mr Aboki Danjuma has strategically deployed security operatives to all nooks and crannies to ensure public safety.


“The Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Aboki Danjuma, has urged the law-abiding residents of the state to disregard the unlawful and deleterious three days sit-at-home order imposed by the outlawed Indigenous IPOB and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN),” the statement reads, and urged Imo residents


The police urged residents to go about their lawful businesses without any form of fear or intimidation as the command in synergy with other security agencies has emplaced adequate security measures to evade any threat of attack by any insurgent group.


“Joint security operatives drawn from  the police, military, civil defense, road safety, immigration and fire service have been massively deployed to embark on confidence-building patrol and operation show of force across the 27 LGAs of the State, to ensure public safety.”, the PPRO stated


However, a cross-section of residents who ignored  the Police advice explained that they choosed to  comply with the IPOB order  because they experienced the Civil War, while others obeyed out of fear


According to Mazi Emenike Anyalewachi, a retired civil servant: "There is nothing wrong with the IPOB orders, several of our people died untimely during that war, as a people we need to undertake certain rites to pacify their souls. If today is the day we have set aside to honour them, I don't see anything wrong with that"


However, a cross section of those who never experienced the Civil War faulted the forced sit-at-home orders and confided in our reporter that they only obeyed due to fear of the unknown.


The sit at home order  was partially observed in Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states as some residents went about their normal businesses.


NAN correspondents, who monitored the level of compliance in some parts of the zone reports that there was partial compliance as some residents obeyed the order while others went about their normal businesses


In spite of few vehicular movements, students were able to sit for their mathematics examination slated for the day.


NAN also reports that state civil servants and public schools went about their normal activities while some streets, markets and shops were deserted amidst heavy presence of security agencies.


An SS3 student in Enugu, who pleaded anonymity, told NAN that they went to school and those writing their Senior Secondary School Examination also sat for their exams.


The student however, regretted that most of them who were day students slept in the examination hall a day before the exam to enable them write for it.


“We wrote general mathematics both theory and objectives today. Many of us that are day students slept in the classrooms to avoid missing the examination due to the sit at home order.


“As you can see, we are done with the examination and we are going back home to meet with our families,” she said.


Another student in Awka, Anambra capital, said that they walked to school in groups to meet up with the examination and nothing happened.


Some civil servants in Enugu said that they went to work in line with government directives but met empty offices.


Another civil servant who work outskirts of the Enugu capital, told NAN that he came out early in the morning but could not see a vehicle to convey her to the community where he was working.


“I came out early this morning but there was no vehicle. I am worried because government said every civil servant must come to work today.


“I am going home, I cannot kill myself over what is not my fault,” he said sadly.


Meanwhile, some traders said they did not open in order to respect the Biafran fallen heroes.


They recalled the huge sacrifices these men and women from the region went through for the entire people of the Igbo region.


Mr Chukwuemeka Ifeanyi, said Biafra fallen soldiers and others killed in the course of ensuring Igbo freedom deserved the respect and honour.