Soldiers in show of force
You may observe order if you like — Umahi
Price hike, panic buying in Awka, Aba, Umuahia
Residents of the five southeastern states are gripped with
fear over the sit-at-home order issued by the leader of the
proscribed group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB),
Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to mark the anniversary of the Biafra
Republic Remembrance Day.
IPOB is remembering civil war victims over two days, with
a candlelit march on Sunday evening and a strict order for
people to remain indoors on Monday for their own safety.
The streets of Owerri, the capital of Imo State, were
already deserted on Sunday, as residents stayed indoors
after the killing of a former aide of ex-President Goodluck
Jonathan, Ahmad Gulak by unidentified gunmen.
Some hoodlums on Sunday razed the Njaba office of the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in
Njaba Local Government Area of the state.
The office is located at Okwudor. The incident is coming
less than 24 hours after Atta Police station, customary and
high courts were burnt down in the same local council.
Price hike, panic buying in Awka
Prices of foodstuff have gone up astronomically in Awka,
the capital of Anambra State as residents engage in panic
buying ahead of the sit-at-home order.
Daily Trust’s visit to Eke Awka market, a major market in
the city revealed that meat, tomato, rice, and other food
items had gone up.
A paint rubber (four-litre cylindrical container) of rice that
was sold at N1,500 is now N2,400 while meat that was
sold at N5,000 is now over N8,000.
Fresh tomato that was sold for N200 is now between
N500 and N600. A paint rubber of garri that was sold for
N1,100 is now between N1,800 and N2,000.
A resident, Mrs. Nkechi Ogwu, told Daily Trust that the
prices of foodstuff have gone up because people were
trying to stock their homes with food items ahead of the
sit-at-home order.
Residents of Aba, the commercial nerve centre of Abia
State, yesterday rushed to the markets to make last
minute purchases of perishable and non-perishable items.
Ariaria International Market, Power Line, Bakassi Shoe
Plaza, Ahia Ohuru, Shopping Centre and Cemetery markets
recorded huge sales.
The Abia State Police Command enjoined residents and
visitors to the state to disregard IPOB, MASSOB or any
other pro-Biafra group sit-at-home order.
Its spokesman, Geoffrey Ogbonna, urged Abians to go
about their lawful duties and businesses without any fear
of intimidation or molestation.
Ogbonna, who assured the residents of the safety of their
lives and property during and after Monday, May 31 stated
that the police in conjunction with other sister agencies
were working round the clock to ensure that Abia is safe.
Men of the Nigerian Army are visibly parading different
streets, flashpoints in a show of force while Police
surveillance helicopters are in the air, adding more fear
and panic to the mind of the people.
Meanwhile, the curfew imposed by the governor of the
state, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu in Aba and Umuahia metropolis
between 8 pm and 6 am daily is still in place.
Disregard order — Police
The Enugu State Police Command has asked residents of
the state to ignore the sit-at-home order and go about
their legitimate activities without fear of intimidation or
harassment as adequate security has been provided by the
command to ensure the safety of citizens.
In a statement by the police spokesman, ASP Daniel
Ndukwe, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr.
Mohammed Ndatsu Aliyu, urged residents to “totally
disregard the unwarranted publication making rounds on
social media and purportedly ordering people to sit-at-
home, rather than go about their legitimate businesses.”
You may observe sit-at-home order if you like – Umahi
Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi has urged traders to
observe Monday 31 sit-at-home order if they so wish.
Umahi gave the order on Sunday evening in a statement
made available to newsmen by his Special Assistant on
Media and Publicity, Mr Francis Nwaze.
Umahi made the call less than 24 hours after he
threatened to seize any shop or business premises that are
locked up on Monday in compliance with the no-
movement order of IPOB.
The statement reads: “The Government of Ebonyi State
has received several requests from some families and
residents of the state, requesting that they would like to
remain indoors on Monday, May 31, 2021, to organise
private family prayers in honour of their loved ones who
were murdered during the unfortunate civil war. Some of
the people with this special request own shops in some of
our markets across the state.
“While as a government, we remain resolute in the
protection of lives and property of Ebonyians and all
residents of Ebonyi State, we are aware that it is the right
of anyone to remain at home or go about his/her normal
businesses in this regard.
“Following the foregoing, the Governor, Engr David Nweze
Umahi, who is highly in touch with the people has directed
that those who may wish to remain at home with their
shop(s) locked should neither be penalised, nor their shop
(s) seized as it is their constitutional right while the rights
of those who may wish to go about their normal
businesses should not be infringed upon as it is equally
their constitutional right.
“He has also directed security agencies to do everything
possible to maintain law and order in the entire Ebonyi
State while maintaining the ban of any procession and
gathering of any kind throughout the state.”
