Owerri, the capital of Imo State was a ghost of itself on Monday as banks, markets, schools, eateries, shopping malls and supermarkets failed to open for business.
The development was despite the fact that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has since announced the suspension of its sit-at-home order in the South-East.
It was learnt that customers were stranded in Imo State capital as a result of the failure of banks and other offices to open for business.
A Punch reporter who monitored the situation around the state capital said bank customers were stranded at Bank Road, a place many banks are located in the state capital.
The ever-busy government house roundabouts, Imo State University junction, Control Post junction and warehouse roundabout were also deserted.
“Apart from pharmacy shops that operated in full scare, businesses operated on a low key in the state capital,” the report said.
The report quoted resident, Sixtus Obinna, saying that it was unfortunate that people were still sitting at home after the IPOB had suspended the weekly sit-at-home order.
Obinna said that the continuation of the sit-at-home was affecting the economy of the people of the South-East region.
However, a newspaper vendor, simply identified as Shege, who also spoke with the paper said that the people of the region would continue to protest until Nnamdi Kanu was released from detention by the Federal Government.
The vendor said though nobody was coming to buy newspapers he had no regrets, adding that he was standing in solidarity with Kanu.
According to him, the people of the region will maintain the protest until they get their due from the Federal Government.