As joint security operatives intensify patrol

Indigenes and residents of Imo State, yesterday, partially observed the sit-at-home order. They largely stayed indoors until about 12:00 noon before a handful began to open their shops, offering skeletal services to their customers.

Meanwhile, security operatives also intensified their patrol and guard duties in the nooks and crannies of the state to avert possible security breaches.

Moving around Owerri, the state capital, yesterday, The Guardian observed that many business premises and outlets were closed, but opened for skeletal services about 12:00 noon. Many others did not open at all. Wetheral, Douglas, Egbu, Mbaise, Nekede, Bank, Okigwe roads had the same scenario. The story was the same in the adjourning areas of Ikenegbu Layout, Aladinma, MCC /Utatta roads and Federal Housing estate, among others.

It was also observed that only a few people came out to transact their businesses on Saturday.

Some respondents who spoke to The Guardian said they were not ready to come under the attack of the hoodlums who may be enforcing the order. This was despite that the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, had instructed the exiled self-acclaimed prime minister of Biafra, Simon Epka, to stop issuing any form of sit-at-home order so as to resuscitate the economy of the South East.

A female trader on Egbu Road, Owerri, while fielding questions, yesterday, said: “Many people do not come out on Mondays because of the fear of the unknown. Also, since people do not largely come out on Mondays, they prefer coming out on Sundays.”

Things are really hard. On Saturdays, people hardly go for their businesses. Vehicles on the roads are usually few, even commercial vehicles hardly operate because of scarcity of passengers. That is the situation at the moment. This should bother our political leaders. Let them release Kanu to end this problem once and for all. We are appealing.”