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Residents of Enugu State, south-east Nigeria, on Monday, shut their businesses and stayed indoors in compliance with the sit-at-home usually enforced by a faction of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Governor Mbah’s pronouncements
The sit-at-home continued despite a pronouncement by the Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, declaring an end to the civil action in the state.
Mr Mbah, on Thursday, vowed that his administration would resist the continuation of the civil action in the state from Monday, 5 June (today).
Another Commercial bank shut on Monday
“Therefore, those that strike on Mondays, putting restrictions in the way of our Igbo spirit of creativity, cannot be our true representatives. To this end, therefore, from Monday June 5, 2023, there will be no observance of any sit-at-home in all nooks and crannies of Enugu State.
“Government will enforce this with all the powers at its disposal”, Mr Mbah had said.
The governor, on Saturday, subsequently asked all schools, markets, retail outlets, hospitals and transporters to stop obeying the Monday sit-at-home order in the state or face sanctions.
“Any market, transport outlet, or any other body that fails to open for business risks being shut immediately,” Dan Neomeh, head of Governor Mbah’s media team, stated.
Bank under lock and key in Enugu
Sit-at-home continues
A PREMIUM TIMES reporter who visited various markets, motor parks, schools and others in the state observed that major roads were deserted and traders shut their business in compliance with the civil order declared by the separatist group.
At the popular Holy Ghost Roundabout near Ogbete Main Market, a combined team of security operatives comprising the police, personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the military, were stationed at the area with two armoured vehicles and several patrol trucks.
Although the main gate of the Ogbete Main Market was left open, shops in the market were under lock and key. There was grave silence inside the market when PREMIUM TIMES visited at about 9:30 a.m. on Monday.
Commercial banks, filling stations and schools were also shut. Several shops along major roads and streets in the state, however, did not open for business. There were minimal human and vehicular movements along the road.
“I have spent some litres of fuel without carrying a reasonable number of passengers. I regret coming out today,” a commercial mini bus driver told this newspaper when asked if the sit-at-home was affecting his transport business.
