Victor EzejaSIT-AT-HOME is gradually becoming a regular Nigerian lexicon especially in the Southeast where the proscribed group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has since May this year, regularly issued orders for people to stay at home in protest against what the group deemed as mistreatment by Nigerian government towards the region.
While other parts of Nigeria were live with commemoration of the country’s 61st independence anniversary, socio-economic activities were once again grounded to a halt in Southeast as the residents remained indoors all through the day in fearful obedience of the sit-at-home order issued by IPOB.
IPOB had in a statement issued by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, ordered sit-at-home in the five South-East states on October 1, warning that anybody seen outside will have him or herself to blame. The secessionist group also banned the flying of the Nigerian flag in the region on that day.
The group said it was in response to marginalization of the region and continued detention of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu by Department of State Services (DSS) at Abuja.
But, President Buhari during his Independence Day broadcast on Friday, maintain a tough disposition, saying his government was out to deal with secessionist agitators in the country.
Buhari also accused some high profile individuals including a serving National Assembly member of sponsoring separatist agitators.
He said, “We shall continue to work on dialogue-based solutions to address legitimate grievances. But we remain ready to take decisive actions against secessionist agitators and their sponsors who threaten our national security.
“The recent arrests of Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Adeyemo, and the ongoing investigations being conducted have revealed certain high-profile financiers behind these individuals. We are vigorously pursuing these financiers including one identified as a serving member of the national assembly,” Buhari stated.
With the directive from IPOB and given past experience during previous sit-at-home exercises, a heavy atmosphere of trepidation engulfed the region.
Streets and roads deserted, marketplaces and motor parks which used to be open even on public holidays were also empty in all parts of the region.
Residents in Enugu who spoke with Prime Business Africa said they were afraid to go out because of past incidents in which people who went out on days declared as sit-at-home were attacked, and some killed in the process.
Stephen Eze, a resident of Enugu said he was indoors all through the day because of the lockdown.
He told Prime Business Africa that the people who move around on days declared as sit-at-home enforcing the order, usually mask their faces and attacked people they see on the road or at marketplaces conducting businesses.
In Anambra State, Prime Business Africa learnt there was also no movement. A resident of Onitsha, Mr Ozoemenam said there was no vehicle movement even from Onitsha to Awka. He said people early in the morning were trekking from upper Iweka axis eastward as there was no vehicle on the road to convey them to their various destinations.
Prime Business Africa gathered that even banks in different states in the region lowered Nigerian flags in their offices in obedience to the order. This was due to fear of attack by those enforcing the order, said staff with one of the backs in Enugu.
This again calls to question, the level of effectiveness of our security architecture. With what is happening, many are increasingly getting confused and worried about security situation in the area.
After repeated sit-at-home exercise used as instrument of protest to demand the release of Kanu, things got awry with rising cases of attacks and killings of innocent individuals in different parts of the region.
Notable groups and individuals in Igbo land have condemned the way and manner in which the exercise is going; crippling the economy of the region with loses being counted in millions of Naira on daily basis.
Observers are of the opinion that some criminal elements have infiltrated the group.
According to a Public Affairs Analyst based in Enugu, Mr Ambrose Igboke, the way IPOB activities are operating in Southeast is getting many confused and worried as to who are the real non-state actors spearheading the agitation for self-determination in the region.
Igboke said the current strategy being adopted is completely different from what used to be.
“Right now we are getting more confused day by day, as to who are the real no-state actors in all these criminalities. In one breath, we see official statements, press releases from supposedly IPOB claiming the fact that they started the sit-at-home but they have discontinued it more than three weeks ago, yet some people are enforcing, so who is enforcing it” Igboke queried.
He continued, “This suggests something that criminal elements are operating. It is either one person is playing to the gallery pretending or criminal elements have infiltrated the group or the group itself now has splinter groups of which people are taking directives from different group leaders.
“Now they have a new dimension where terror is employed as instrument of cohesion and using it to frighten people and to ensure that people are really thoroughly frightened.”
Another person who spoke to Prime Business Africa in confidence said, “With what is happening, it appears IPOB don’t have a command structure anymore. It looks like they have two splinter groups, Emma Powerful and Simon Ekpa. There could be those not obeying either of the groups, there could be some criminal elements using IPOB/ESN name.”
Igboke advised that security forces should provide adequate security at flashpoints to checkmate incidents of instability in the region instead of mounting checkpoints on roads where such is not needed.
“We need to tighten security in the Southeast. It is chilling that few days to Nigeria’s independence, I high figure like Dr Chile Akunyili was just murdered in such a gruesome manner. This is a chilling experience. We are living in palpable fear. You don’t know when you go out whether you will come back. You don’t know when you sleep in the night whether you will wake safely.
“These really bad signs. Nigeria at 61 is like a bleeding old man that is in need of urgent intervention in the intensive care unit. “
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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