AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
All economic activities in Ebonyi State capital were crippled, today, August 9, 2021, in response to the sit-at-home order in the South East by the Independent People of Biafra.
During visit to headquarters of the state judiciary in Abakaliki as at 11am the gates were under lock and key while few workers around were seen at the gate whiling away time, as they made to go back homes.
Our Correspondent reports that some civil servants who spoke under conditions of anonymity, said they are going back home to avoid being physically attacked since there were no armed security personnel in the court premises to guarantee their safety.
They said, “We are going back home because we don’t have any security personnel here to guard us against any physical attack from people who maybe going round to enforce compliance. If anything bad happens to us, this office will still go on so we are considering safety first.”
At the permanent site of Ebonyi State University, Ezzangbo few students were seen around the highly populated school as examinations were said to be postponed.
A female student, Joy Ofoke, caught the mood this way.
She said, “My name is Joy Ofoke. I am a third year student of the Mass Communication Department of Ebonyi State University. I am dissatisfied about the abrupt and oral postponement of our examinations because of sit-at-home order.
“I insist that effects of Nnamdi Kanu’s trial should not affect our education. We are still struggling to cover the time wasted during Covid-19 pandemic.”
Meanwhile the University’s Public Relations Officer, Patrick Itumo, in a phone interview with The Point advised the lecturers and students to use their discretions in handling the situation.
At Kpiripiri and Afikpo Road axis of the state capital, many fuel stations were under lock including Brass oil owned by the state governor David Nweze Umahi.
Efforts to speak with the manager of the filling station were not successful.
The ever busy Vanco junction and government house roundabout was a shadow of itself, with little vehicler movement, involving merely private cars and tricycles.
Students and pupils were absent in both government and private schools visited, including Ugwuachara Community Primary School Eddaechara, Tricia Academy Nursery/Primary school Mile 50 and Standard Nursery, Primary and Secondary Schools, Mbamagbo.
At the Tricia Academy, the Head-Teacher, Alphonsus Igwe, met during press visit stated that in as much as they were not against the sit-at-home order by IPOB in solidarity for release of leader of the group Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, their pupils were not in school because they are done with examinations.
He said that the teachers needed a serene environment to compute both termly and annual results.
The Point observed that the biggest market in the state popularly known as the Margret Umahi International Market, Roban Stores, supermarkets and other shops on the streets were all locked in compliance to the order.
Recall that the sit-at-home order slated to be observed every Monday in the South Eastern states was in agitation for the release of leader of IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu currently facing trial in Abuja.
The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Security, Stanley Okoro-Emegha could not be reached for comments.
