Residents of Owerri, the Imo State capital city, have revealed that fear is the major reasons why they observed the May 30, Biafra Day sit-at-home order irrespective of police assurance of adequate security.
Speaking to our correspondent who went round the streets of Owerri to monitor events, some residents who were seen sitting within their compounds explained that the major reason is the fear of the unknown gunmen who may use such opportunity to strike.
One of the residents, who gave his name as Ferdinand Nzukoka, a barbing saloon owner, said criminal elements hide under the guise of enforcing the sit-at-home order to rob people of their wares and money and sometimes inflict injuries on them.
He noted that if you choose to go out for day to day activities there are possibilities that you may not come back or even though you come back it will not be without encountering one incident or the other.
Nzukoka narrated an incident he encountered while going out on a sit-at-home day.
He explained that he was accosted by some security officers who after questioning him tagged him a member of IPOB even though no incriminating object was found on him.
He said that he was however released after much torture and pleading.
Odinakachi Nduka, a handsets repairer and phone accessories dealer at Tetlow, told our correspondent that it is too risky stepping out from your house on sit at home day, explaining that you either end up being a victim at the hands of security agencies or unknown gunmen.
“If you were arrested by any of the security agencies you will be accused of attempting to breach public peace and if you fall into the hands of unknown gunmen you will be accused of disobeying the sit-at-home order.
“So looking at the two sides, you find out that it is better for you to relax in your house and stay with your family till the day is over,” he explained.
Another resident, Olukoma Njoku, who owns an eatery joint, told our correspondent that no one enjoys staying home throughout the day doing nothing, pointing out that any moment that is wasted is money lost.
She however maintained that “life is paramount and must be protected at any cost, even though sitting at home does no one any good but as far as life is involved let us sacrifice the day”.
Speaking on the situation, a housewife, Mrs Njoku suggested that the Federal Government should take over the Biafra Day by declaring it a public holiday in honour of those that were killed after the January 15 1966 coup and during the Biafra-Nigeria civil war.
She maintained that if the Federal Government takes over the commemoration by declaring the day a public holiday, it will no longer be in the hands of the agitators to enforce.
According to Mrs Njoku, there is nothing wrong in observing the day.
Our correspondent reported that shops, markets, schools and government establishments were closed throughout the day.
There was no vehicular movement on major roads within the capital territory.
