From Isaac Ojo, Ifeoma Ejiofor
Following the expected appearance of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in court, the people of Anambra State have braced up for four days to sit at home.
The sit-at-home is expected to last from Monday to Thursday.
People were actually seen rushing out of the state on Saturday and Sunday thereby causing heavy traffic congestion at Head Bridge, Onitsha.
Transport fares were also adjusted upward to reflect the mood of the moment, cost of foodstuffs equally went up as people engaged in panic buying to stock up for the four days sit at home.
A message which went viral last week warning people to stay at home from Monday to Thursday so as not to fall victim actually contributed significantly to the adherence of the order.
Not even a clarification from the IPOB image-maker, Comrade Emma Powerful that it is only Tuesday 18th January that is declared a sit at home to pray for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu could dissuade people from locking up shops and offices.
The Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C. Don Adinuba in a press release said that the state government has done everything possible to encourage the people to go about their normal businesses but added that the people are not willing to go out.
He said as a matter of fact that the government cannot force anyone to go out.
On Monday, there was absolute compliance to the directive as markets and offices remained close. The ever-busy roads in Nnewi, Onitsha and environs were converted to playing grounds by youths.
Similarly, there was also total compliance on Tuesday, some of the churches that opened for early morning prayers had to close abruptly as the news went round that churches were being attacked by the sit-at-home enforcers.
Mr John Elochukwu, a trader in Nnewi said that he has closed shop for the four days as he is not ready to die a careless death.
When reminded of the promise of security by the state government, Elochukwu said “odikwa risky to go out because the government promised security when the enforcers were operating in the past, where were the security agents?” he quipped.
A number of people who spoke on the condition of anonymity agreed hundred percent with the position of Mr Elochukwu.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of Anambra State Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga (DSP) could not pick his call when contacted by our reporter so as to get the police angle of the alleged attack on churches in the early hours of Tuesday.
