Ebonyi State on Monday recorded 70% lockdown following the earlier sit-at-home order declared by the indigenous people of Biafra, IPOB
Newspot gathered that residents of the state for fear of attacks by hoodlums refused to go to work or even open up their shops for businesses.
Our reporter who visited banks, transport depots and other business areas in Abakaliki metropolis gathered that it was all shut as a result of the sit-at-home order.
Recall that the leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra, led by Nnamdi Kanu, had earlier cancelled the sit-at-home to avert causing hardship on the people of the southeast zone.
But 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.
It was gathered that major roads including the Abakaliki/Enugu; Abakaliki /Afikpo highways and other major busy internal roads including Afikpo and Ogoja roads were scanty with human and vehicular movements.
A trader, one 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 sceptical 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.
The duo, said that they were at the bank around 10am but we’re informed that the bank did not open for business.
“I came to make some withdrawal and do other things in the bank. But, on getting here, the bank didn’t open, the security men on duty asked me to use the ATM machine for my withdrawal or come back tomorrow,” she said.
Onwe said, “My programme for the day is shattered due to this development as I needed money to tackle an emergency family problem.
”My ATM card has expired and needed to be replaced. This was one the things I came to do but see, I can’t even withdraw any money, I am completely confused” he stated.
