Gladness Gideon
Umuahia, the capital of Abia State, came to a standstill on Friday as residents complied fully with the sit-at-home order issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB) in remembrance of Biafra’s fallen heroes.
Major roads across the city were largely deserted, with only a few tricycles and vehicles seen in motion. Shops, markets, motor parks, and banks all remained shut throughout the day, reflecting a near-total halt in commercial and social activity.
Educational institutions, both public and private, also joined in the observance, as classrooms were empty and school gates locked. While the mood across the city remained sombre, some youths were seen playing football on empty streets, while small groups of residents gathered in front of their homes, quietly discussing the state of the nation.
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There was no reported presence of security operatives patrolling the streets, nor any confrontation between law enforcement agencies and those enforcing the order, contributing to a calm and incident-free atmosphere.
The sit-at-home, an annual directive by IPOB, is traditionally observed across the South-East in memory of the lives lost during the Nigerian Civil War.