DESPITE the suspension of the sit-at-home order in the South-East by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, activities were grounded in some parts of the region.
This was as the IPOB made a U-turn and threatened to recommence the ‘every Monday’ sit-at-home protest starting from August 23.
Banks, schools, shops and other businesses did not open for work in many parts of Abia, Ebonyi, Imo and Anambra states, while traders and other business concerns opened in Enugu State.
Though one of the reasons for the absence of normal activities in four out of the five southeastern states was that many were not aware of the suspension of the sit-at-home order, others genuinely closed shops in solidarity with the IPOB leader.
In Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, commercial banks and other businesses remained shut as the sit-at-home order was observed irrespective of the suspension of the directive.
One of our correspondents, who monitored the situation, gathered that banks, motor parks, filling stations, eateries, major shops and supermarkets remained closed in the state capital.
Also affected were shops at the Abakaliki International market and Ophoke-Abba market in Kpiri-Kpiri, where shop owners shut down businesses.
The PUNCH further reports that major roads, including the Abakaliki/Enugu; Abakaliki/Afikpo highways and other major busy internal roads like Afikpo and Ogoja roads were scanty with human and vehicular movements.
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.
