Sit-at-Home continues

Monday's sit-at-home was initially called by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as civil disobedience against the illegal incarceration of their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, by the Nigerian authorities despite various courts judgements, declaring his abduction from Kenya in June 2021 as illegal.

Since then, economic and social activities have been paralysed on Mondays despite the leadership of IPOB declaring an end to sit-at-home protest.

So many pro-Biafra groups including the one led by Ekpa, who resides in Finland have continued to enforce the sit-at-home, insisting that until Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is released in compliance with various court orders and UN Human Rights Communications to Nigeria which have been implemented in breach, sit-at-home will not stop. 

They also accused some IPOB members calling for an end to sit-at-home as sell out and saboteurs.

While some believed that with the arrest of Simon Ekpa, it would see the end to sit-at-home, it appears that sit-at-home has been encouraged with momentum as most cities in all the five states in the South East witnessed resurgence of sit-at-home on Monday.

SaharaReporters had reported that gunmen attacked operatives of the Anambra State Vigilante Service on Monday and burnt their operational vehicle. 

The incident which happened along the Amesi-Uga Road in Aguata Local Government Area, Anambra State also send fears on the residents.

The Anambra State Police Spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident in a press statement, adding that police operatives responded swiftly to the attack, rescuing the injured vigilante who was immediately taken to the hospital and was now receiving treatment.

Also clashes between the Nigerian security agencies and militias groups linked to the agitation continued across the five states of the region.

Despite the arrest of a self-confessed Biafran leader, Simon Ekpa, by the Finnish authorities, the sit-at-home in South East Nigeria has continued.

Also clashes between the Nigerian security agencies and militias groups linked to the agitation continued across the five states of the region.

According to Ikenga, the police secured the scene of the attack to prevent further criminal activity and ensure properties and goods were safeguarded.

Meanwhile, private and mission schools that had been operating on Mondays in Anambra State suspended classes until further notice.

The Catholic Education Council in a directive said: “Due to certain security concerns, it has been considered that schools will not be held on Mondays till further notice.

“Pupils are advised to stay at home and resume on Tuesday 26th November. We’re sorry for any inconvenience.

“SSS3 students are, however, expected to be coming to school on Mondays and Saturdays for special lessons without uniform.

“We appreciate all those who have made sincere efforts to complete all their payments as we expected every well-meaning parent/guardian to have done before now. Please kindly inform others about this message”.

It was gathered that the latest directive followed an alleged threat by unknown people to attack school buses and schools that open on Mondays.

As usual, commercial activities did not take place in most parts of Anambra. 

At the Awka main market, traders hurriedly closed their shops when information went around that gunmen were going to attack the market for opening on Monday.

In Enugu State capital, Abakaliki and Owerri and other major cities in the southeast, witnessed low economic and social activities over fears.

The Anambra Innovation Week, which began on Monday also witnessed a very low turnout as the participants who were expected to come from various parts of the state could not make it. 

The state deputy governor, Dr. Onyekachi Ibezim, however, declared the week open and the expectation is that

 the full attendance would begin on Tuesday.