Banks, shops shut in Imo despite cancellation of sit-at-home order by IPOB

Commercial activities were grounded on Monday in major parts of Owerri, the capital of Imo state, despite the cancellation of the sit-at-home order by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

IPOB, on July 30, ordered a sit-at-home in the south-east every Monday until Nnamdi Kanu, its leader, is released from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

However, on August 14, the group announced a suspension of the order.

But two weeks later, business activities are still grounded every Monday out of fear of the unknown.

TheCable observed that major roads that used to see a beehive of activities in Owerri were deserted with a few vehicles plying the roads.

Also, shops in Okigwe road, Wetheral road and Bank road were under lock, while banks in some parts of the state were not open for business on Monday.

Chibuike Norom, a shop owner in Owerri, told TheCable that the order had caused a setback on economic activities.

Norom asked residents in the state to have a “rethink in order not to jeopardise the economy of the south-east”.

But a newspaper vendor who identified himself simply as Ifeanyi, expressed delight in the compliance with the sit-at-home order, adding that it is in solidarity with Kanu.

In June, Kanu was arrested in Kenya and brought to Nigeria. He was re-arraigned on charges bordering on treasonable felony brought against him by the federal government over his campaign for the separatist Republic of Biafra.