Anambra shut down as residents comply with IPOB’s sit-at-home order

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).

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

The sit-at-home met with heavy compliance in Anambra, with banks, schools, markets, shops, eateries and other businesses deserted.

According to newsmen, correspondents 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 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.