On Monday, the Southeast region of Nigeria came to a standstill as residents adhered to a sit-at-home order issued by pro-Biafra separatists, severely disrupting business and social activities across the area.
From Anambra to Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, and Imo, the streets were eerily quiet, with shops, schools, government offices, and secretariats all closed in compliance with the directive. Despite the presence of security personnel in some locations, residents largely chose to remain indoors.
In Enugu State, SaharaReporters noted that major roads, including Ogui Road, Presidential Road, and Emene Road, were completely deserted. Petrol stations, schools, and markets stood empty, with only a few commercial tricycles navigating the quieter inner streets.
Owerri, the capital of Imo State, also experienced deserted roads. Key routes such as the Aba-Owerri Expressway and MCC Road were almost untraveled, with shops locked tight.
In Awka, the capital of Anambra State, bustling commercial areas like Nnewi and Onitsha faced a complete shutdown, and the famous Eke Awka Market was similarly void of activity. The local office of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company was also closed, and motor parks were empty.
As a result of the widespread compliance, many individuals were forced to walk long distances or cancel plans, as public transport options were nearly non-existent. One resident shared, “I had to walk home from Eke Awka, nearly 3 km, because I couldn’t find any Keke Napep from the market to Aroma Roundabout. This is the most observed sit-at-home in recent times.”
Abia State, typically less responsive to such orders, also observed the sit-at-home on this occasion, particularly in Aba, the commercial hub and home state of detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. The streets of Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State, mirrored this pattern, with government officials and citizens honoring the protest by closing businesses and schools.
In a bid to maintain order, military helicopters were seen patrolling the skies above Enugu and Ebonyi states to deter any potential unrest.
On the eve of the sit-at-home, Enugu State Commissioner of Police Kanayo Uzuegbu issued a strong warning to pro-Biafra agitators, stating that any attempt to disrupt the peace would be met with decisive action. This warning came amid calls for the protest by a group claiming to advocate for Biafran independence.
The two-day sit-at-home protest, scheduled for October 21 and 22, encompasses not only the five Southeastern states but also parts of Delta, Rivers, and Kogi states.
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