Streets across towns and villages in Anambra State were deserted on Friday as residents observed Biafra Day by staying indoors, following a sit-at-home directive issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The group had declared May 30 as a day of remembrance in honour of those who died during the Nigerian Civil War, calling for total shutdown across the South-East region.
In Awka, the state capital, markets, motor parks, banks, shops, schools, and even government offices remained closed. The roads were largely empty, with only a few vehicles in sight, and public spaces devoid of activity.
Reports from other parts of the state confirmed similar scenes, as business activities were completely grounded.
Although the Anambra State Police Command had assured citizens of adequate security and urged them to go about their normal activities, many chose to remain at home, driven by lingering fears from previous years.
A resident of Awka, Mr. Moses Ezeh, attributed the high level of compliance to fear rather than actual threats.
“It’s just fear that is keeping people at home,” he said. “In past years, IPOB threatened to deal with anyone who disobeyed the sit-at-home. Even though no such threats were issued this time, people still stayed away.”
Ezeh noted that the absence of violence this year may be linked to the detention of both IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu and his self-styled successor Simon Ekpa, who is currently in custody in Finland.
“With both Kanu and Ekpa not active, there was no one to incite or enforce the directive violently. That’s probably why everything was peaceful today,” he added.
Despite the calm, the general atmosphere remained tense, as fear—rather than force—appeared to be the driving factor behind the widespread observance of the sit-at-home.
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