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Tag: sit-at-home

  • Sit-at-home: IPOB not Imo govt, I decide what happens – Gov Uzodinma

    Sit-at-home: IPOB not Imo govt, I decide what happens – Gov Uzodinma

    The Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma has rubbished the sit-at-home order recently declared by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, in solidarity with its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who is currently in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS.

    Recall that the secessionist group had earlier in the month ordered that sit-at-home would be observed every Monday in all parts of Southeast pending the freedom of Kanu.

    But due to pressures from stakeholders, IPOB suspended the action, saying the sit-at-home would now be observed any day the Kanu would be appearing in court to continue his trial which bothers on treason felony.

    Despite the suspension, DAILY POST observes that activities are yet to resume in the region on Mondays over fear of attacks by hoodlums.

    However, Uzodinma who spoke during an interview with Channels TV on Thursday as monitored by our correspondent, said the order has not been observed in Imo State, stressing that only orders from his government can be observed.

    Despite the unrest in some parts of the state, particularly Orlu, the governor claimed that Imo is “relatively peaceful”.

    He said, “There is no any order outside the government of Imo State. Because there is a government and IPOB is not the government in Imo. I am still the governor of the State.

    “Imo State government has not authorized any sit-at-home and like I said, in Imo State, everybody is going about their businesses every day, workers are going to work, and normal activities are going on.

    “For now, Imo State is relatively calm. Before the end of last league, we even had a match between heartland and Adamawa football club in the night at our stadium and people who watched it all over the world will tell you the level of friendliness and calm environment in Imo State”.

  • Trapped Passenger Burnt Alive As IPOB Sit-At-Home Order Turns Bloody In Imo

    Trapped Passenger Burnt Alive As IPOB Sit-At-Home Order Turns Bloody In Imo

    A passenger was burnt alive in Nkwogu, Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State when the sit-at-home order issued by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) turned bloody on Monday.

    Commercial activities were grounded in most parts of the state as residents observed the order.

    Schools were also closed while students sitting for NECO examination were prevented from taking their papers.

    Our correspondent gathered that the deceased was inside one of the three buses that were torched by a mob.

    Two of the vehicles, Hummer Buses, belonging to a popular transport company, Libra, were coming from Umuahia, Abia State capital, when they ran into a group of hoodlums suspected to be members of IPOB.

    It was gathered that they shot at the tyres, which forced the bus to stop.

    The passengers of the buses scuttled to safety, while one of the drivers was reportedly shot on the hip.

    The passenger could not escape before the bus was burnt down.

    Our correspondent also gathered that there was heavy shooting around Banana junction along Orlu-Owerri road as gunmen engaged security agents in a shoot-out.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Mike Abattam, did not pick his calls when our correspondent tried to reach him.

  • Awka, Onitsha, others shut down as Anambra residents comply with IPOB’s Sit-At-Home order

    Awka, Onitsha, others shut down as Anambra residents comply with IPOB’s Sit-At-Home order

    Major and minor cities in Anambra State, including Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi, Ekwulobia and others were on Monday totally shut down in compliance with the directive of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    The group had called for a shutdown of businesses in southeast states every Monday until its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who is in the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS) is released.

    There had been confusion yesterday as to whether the exercise would hold or not. This was because of a counter directive by Kanu’s brother who said the exercise had been called off to allow students sitting for the NECO examination to do so.

    However, spokesperson of the group, Emma Powerful, quickly refuted the claim, saying the order was sacrosanct.

    Monday’s sit-at-home registered heavy compliance in Anambra, with banks, schools, markets, shops, eateries and other businesses deserted.

    Our correspondent who moved around to monitor the level of compliance found that even although markets were open, traders refused to resume business.

    The Anambra State Government had earlier threatened to withhold August salaries of workers who failed to resume for duties on Monday.

    At the state secretariat complex, it was also observed that most workers came to work because of the order but they left almost immediately after signing the attendance register.

    Motor parks were also deserted as motorists and passengers alike stayed away, leaving streets deserted.

    In Nnewi, a source confirmed that two persons were killed very early in the morning at Izuchukwu junction for daring to come out. Their identities and that of their attackers were however not revealed.

    Reports had it that police patrol vehicles were on every major street, sitting civilly in their vehicles, providing protection for the few people that were courageous enough to leave their houses.

    A market leader at Eke Awka market, who did not disclose his name said: “The leadership of the market did its best by opening the market, but traders refused to come.

    “You can see that some of the traders opened, but there are no customers. I think it is rather out of fear that people did not come to the market, and not because they want to comply with IPOB directive.”

  • IPOB Cannot Give Sit-At-Home Order In Rivers – Wike

    IPOB Cannot Give Sit-At-Home Order In Rivers – Wike

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike on Monday said the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) cannot issue a sit-at-home order to the people of Rivers State.

    Wike stated this on Channels Television’s Politics, adding that Rivers is a South-South state and not one of the South-Eastern states.

    IPOB had through its spokesperson, Emma Powerful said human and vehicular movements would be restricted across the South-East on Monday to mark the 54th anniversary of Biafra.

    In compliance with this, economic and commercial activities came to a standstill in the South-East region of the country.

    But Wike faulted the directive, saying he is not against the activities of the outlawed group in the eastern part of the country.

    “IPOB cannot make an order to say sit at home in Rivers State. I have said so clearly before because it does not exist in Rivers State,” he said.

    “Rivers State is not part of South-East. Rivers State is South-South, we are in the Niger Delta. I am not saying whether the people in the South-East should not obey what IPOB has said or not. But they cannot give order to Rivers people to sit at home.”

    Streets in Owerri, Imo State capital were empty. Businesses, schools, and other major economic hubs were shut. Vehicular movements were also grounded as many residents observed the order.

    However, there was a heavy presence of security operatives in strategic places in the city to forestall any breakdown of law and order.

    In Abia State, streets were deserted and shops are under lock and key while in Anambra State, the situation is the same. Economic and social activities have been halted and there is a heavy security presence in major locations of the state to maintain law and order.

    The situation is not too different in Ebonyi State as few vehicles were seen on the highway. The inner streets were deserted with security men positioned at different locations.

    The state governor David Umahi had earlier instructed that no resident will be penalised if he or she chooses to stay at home.

    Many businesses in Delta State capital, Asaba were also shut as residents comply with the sit-at-home order. Banks and major shopping malls were closed.

    At the popular wood market along the Asaba-Onitsha expressway, most shops were closed with a few traders around.

  • BREAKING: Lagos doctors suspend sit-at-home

    BREAKING: Lagos doctors suspend sit-at-home

    The Nigerian Medical Association has suspended its “sit-at-home” in Lagos State, Daybreak reports.

    The suspension of the action came barely 24 hours after the association had asked its members to embark on an indefinite “sit-at-home” over alleged harassment by security agents in the state.

    It made a reference to a situation where an ambulance carrying a patient was prevented from moving to its destination while the attending health workers were harassed and temporarily detained.

    In a release on Thursday, the NMA said it has got assurances from the state government and top hierarchy of the Nigeria Police Force that doctors will no longer be harassed or intimidated.

    Part of the statement read, “The Nigerian police force has reached out to the Association to clarify and give assurance of cooperation with all health-workers.

    “The association has further received assurances from Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the top hierarchy of the Police that no health workers will be further harassed in the course of their lawful efforts to sustain services in the middle of the pandemic.

    “Above all, the passionate appeal from the good people of Lagos State is difficult to resist considering the fact that they will be most hit by the situation.

    “Following a holistic consideration of the above development, the Association hereby resolves that the sit-at-home order issued on the 19th of May is hereby reversed and our members are hereby directed to resume work from 6 pm today – 21st of May 2020 (this affects those on call duty).

    “That the Lagos state government should ensure clarity at all times, on the exempted status of healthcare and other essential workers for the entire period of the ongoing lockdown/restriction of movement.

    “That the Association will continue to monitor the situation and will not hesitate to take any action to protect the safety of our hardworking members.”