Biafra: Enugu residents ignore IPOB’s sit-at-home order [PHOTOS]

Enugu, the Enugu State capital was on Friday full of activities as residents ignored the sit-at-home protest ordered by the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB).

Checks showed that they went about their businesses as the streets, offices, markets as well as other places of their interests were beehive of activities.

Commuters, commercial banks and other financial institutions were seen opened, with customers being attended to normally by bank officials.

However, security was beefed up in Enugu metropolis and its environs as detachment of armed policemen and soldiers were seen on Friday in strategic areas in the city, apparently monitoring the situation.

Reports from Agbani, Nsukka, Udi, Oji-River and other major towns in the state also indicated that the mass protest did not hold, a total departure from the preceding ones.

Some of the residents interviewed said that although they shared the views canvassed by the pro-Biafra groups, but they differed with the process.

They stressed that embarking on mass protest by now was a misplacement as it could escalate tension in the region.

“Agreed that Ndigbo are being marginalized by successive regimes, but the truth is that we need to make wide consultations with other ethnic nationalities to proffer lasting solution to the hydra-headed problems going on in this country. Pro-Biafra agitators should be involved in partisan politics, sponsor some of their members to states and National Assembly to effect a positive change.

“That is a legitimate means to realize Biafra and not by daring security operatives ”, Mazi Ikechukwu Okoroafor a social crusader said in an interview with journalists.

Meanwhile, the Police in Enugu had also on the eve of the fixed demonstration, urged members of the public to disregard the protest and go about their normal businesses.

In a statement signed by the State Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amaraizu, the police said, “The Command in this regard advises those in this intended acts to toe the path of peace and order in the state; as the state police command working in synergy with other sister agencies will stop at nothing at ensuring that the existing peace in the state is not disrupted or compromised.”