Except for students taking the National Examination Council (NECO), all operations in Enugu State were halted on Monday as a result of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOBsit-at-home )’s order to demand the release of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who is currently detained.
In significant portions of Enugu’s capital, commercial activity and enterprises held by the federal, state, and private sectors were shut down, and the roadways were desolate as locals obeyed the order.
Last week, IPOB spokesman Emma Powerful urged Nigerians in the southeast to commemorate August 9 as “ghost Monday” in order to pressure the federal government to free Kanu. Commercial banks, schools, stores, and malls were shut down in accordance with the decree, which stated that the “complete lockdown” will continue “every Monday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Kanu is unconditionally released from detention.”
Commercial banks, schools, businesses, and shopping malls were all forced to close as a result of the mandate.
Various regions of the state were also without power for the duration of the sit-at-home protest. Petrol stations and gas stations were also shuttered.
Despite assurances from the state that they would be protected, government employees at the Enugu Secretariat did not report to work.
At lunchtime, our correspondent saw the secretariat to be a ghost town, with no human beings or activity visible.
Newspaper vendors in many sections of the state were unable to accept orders. Due to the restrictions on travel imposed by IPOB’s sit-at-home order, the Monday issue of the national dailies was not delivered.
To maintain law and order, police and other security personnel were stationed at strategic points.
