Sit-at-home: Residents Panic As Banks, Markets, Schools Shut Down In Owerri

On Monday, about 12 p.m., commercial activities in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, came to a halt as many locals rushed home to avoid a nasty situation.

Several banks, marketplaces, and public and private schools have also closed in Heartland City, despite the fact that no known or heinous occurrence has occurred as of press time.

The cause for the tension, according to DAILY POST, was that certain hoodlums were implementing a sit-at-home order that had already been canceled by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

To maintain calm, security personnel were stationed at important locations such as the Akwakuma Flyover, Welthral Road by the Fire Service, and Control, among others.

Many private and public school students took advantage of early-morning transportation to come to school on time before being ordered to leave by school officials.

Despite the fact that certain schools were not closed, several parents were observed taking their children to avoid any casualties.

The state secretariat in Owerri remained peaceful, as civil workers were busy with their jobs, but most schools in Orji were closed, and parents were also bringing their children home, according to a Daily Post correspondent who was monitoring the situation.

A resident, Mr Steven Uzechukwu, while reacting to the situation, said “Police fall my hand. This studied silence and lacuna are what triggers speculation and scaremongering”.

“Imo people want to reclaim their Mondays, but this kind of scaremongering will keep people at home next Monday.

“The people need to be reassured. We’ll do our best, but it falls back on the police in the state. I don’t think my kids will go to school on Mondays. It is terrible today.”

DAILY POST had earlier reported that IPOB ordered the cancellation of the Monday sit-at-home following appeals by Igbo leaders, including Ohaneze Ndigbo, because of the negative impact it was having on the economy of the southeast geopolitical zone.

While a section of IPOB had directed that the sit-at-home should be observed only on days Nnamdi Kanu, its leader, would appear in court, another group insisted that every Monday should be observed as a mark of respect for the IPOB leader until he is released from detention.