Major parts of Imo State were brought to a standstill on Friday as residents observed the sit-at-home directive issued by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in commemoration of Biafra Heroes Day.
In Owerri, the state capital, streets that are usually buzzing with activity fell eerily silent. From Wetheral to Douglas Road, Tetlow, Egbu, Orji, Okigwe, Mbaise, and Aba Road, not a single commercial vehicle was in sight for most of the day.
Only security convoys comprising operatives from the Police, Army, Navy, Air Force, Civil Defence, Immigration, and the Federal Road Safety Commission were seen patrolling the city.
Markets also joined in the quiet. Ekeonunwa, Relief, Alaba, and other major trading hubs were under lock and key, with only a few traders operating discretely and cautiously, wary of potential violence.
The atmosphere, though calm, remained tense.
Responding to the situation, the Commissioner of Police in Imo State, CP Aboki Danjuma, reaffirmed the readiness of security agencies to protect law-abiding citizens.
A statement issued by the Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Henry Okoye, emphasized that any attempt to disrupt public peace would be met with firm resistance.
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“The Commissioner of Police has once again urged the good people of Imo State to disregard the unlawful sit-at-home order by IPOB and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN). The Command, working in tandem with sister security agencies, has implemented strategic security deployments to ensure peace and safety across all 27 local government areas,” the statement read.
The police also issued a stern warning: “Anyone found attempting to enforce the illegal directive or threaten peace will be dealt with decisively and in line with the law.”
Citizens were further encouraged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities via emergency contact numbers provided by the Command.
The sit-at-home directive, which IPOB says is in honour of fallen Biafran heroes, continues to polarize public opinion and raise questions about the enduring influence of the separatist group in the Southeast, despite repeated government crackdowns.
As dusk settled over Imo on Friday, the silence lingered — a stark reminder of the deep-rooted tensions that still ripple beneath the surface of Nigeria’s Southeast region.