.. banks, courts, schools, markets, shut
BY AGNES NWORIE,
ABAKALIKI
All economic activities in Ebonyi State capital remained crippled, today, August 9, 2021, in response to the sit-at-home order in the South East by the Independent People of Biafra.
During a visit to the headquarters of the state judiciary in Abakaliki 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 home.
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 on ground to protect them.
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 our safety first.”
At the permanent site of the Ebonyi State University, Ezzangbo, few students were seen around and examinations were said to have been postponed.
A female student, Joy Ofoke, who spoke to The Point, expressed disappointment with the way and manner the examinations were suspended, without prior notice and mere word of mouth.
She said, “My name is Joy Ofoke. I am a third year student of the Mass Communications Department of the 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 the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Meanwhile, the University’s Public Relations Officer, Patrick Itumo, in a phone interview with The Point advised both lecturers and students to use their discretions in handling the situation.
At Kpirikpiri 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 movements, involving merely private cars and tricycles.
Similarly, 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, stated that though they were not against the sit-at-home order by IPOB, their pupils were not in school because they are done with the term’s examinations.
He averred 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 because of the IPOB order.
Recall that the sit-at-home order, to be observed every Monday in the South Eastern states was issued as part of 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.
