Commercial activities shut in Ebonyi despite suspension of sit-at-home
[From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki]
Despite the announcement by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) that it had suspended its sit-at-home order, commercial activities in the Abakaliki metropolis were shut on Monday.
Our correspondent, who monitored the situation in Abakaliki gathered that banks, motor parks, filling stations, eateries, major shops, major markets and supermarkets did not open for business.
At Abakaliki International market and Ophoke-Abba market in Kpiri-Kpiri majority of the shop owners did not open for business.
There was also scanty movement of human and vehicles on major roads including the Abakaliki/Enugu; Abakaliki /Afikpo highways and other major busy internal roads including Afikpo and Ogoja roads.
Some residents who spoke with our Correspondent said that people were not well informed and sensitised on the suspension order by the group.
A trader, Mr Simon Ngaji at Ophoke-Abba Market, Kpiri-Kpiri explained that people especially shop owners in the market did not receive the news of the suspension, while some doubted its authenticity.
“There was conflicting information on suspension of the earlier sit-at-home order last Monday; though IPOB came out to refute the news of the suspension.
“Many people who violated the order lost their lives during the action and this goes to explain why people are skeptical about the suspension of today’s sit-at-home and decided not to come out,” Ngaji said.
Two bank customers, Miss Eunice Chukwu and Mr Emmanuel Onwe lamented that they could not transact the business they came to do in the bank due to the development.
Entrance gates of popular motor parks such as the Peace, Romchi, Royal and Onitsha South Mass transit parks,etc, were under lock and key while intending passengers who came to board buses were stranded.
A traveler, Mr Ifeanyi Onyeike said he came to Peace park to board a bus to Aba, but was told that the company was not loading passengers.
“I became so disappointed because I didn’t know that despite the cancellation of today’s sit-at-home order that Abakaliki will still be locked down,” Onyeike said.
At Romchi Park, Miss Ngozi Agha, a student, said that she was at the park to board a bus to Afikpo but was informed that the transit company was not attending to passengers.
