Enugu threatens to sanction schools, markets that obey sit-at-home directive

The Enugu government says it will sanction schools, markets, and institutions that defy the ban on sit-at-home in the state.

Several social media posts on Monday suggested that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had ordered south-eastern residents to sit at home on Monday and Tuesday.

As a result, residents in most parts of the south-east stayed at home. However, workers in Enugu defied the directive following the state government’s order that people should go about their businesses.

Speaking at a press conference in Enugu, Chidiebere Onyia, the secretary to the state government (SSG), commended residents for not yielding to the stay-at-home order.

Onyia warned that individuals who did not show up for work at their respective offices due to the IPOB’s order would be sanctioned.

While inviting investors to Enugu, the SSG said the state is open for business as it ensures optimum security and does not tolerate disruptions by non-state actors.

“Enugu is open for business, and Enugu is fully engaged in assuring that private sector actors feel very comfortable coming into Enugu,” Onyia said.

“So, we will not tolerate non-state actors trying to act in defiance of our clear approach to grow our economy.

“What is also important is that under this governor and this government, there has been no incident on any Monday from the day the governor cancelled the illegal sit-at-home.

“Because we heard the rumours of an illegal sit-at-home directive by non-state actors, the security forces and the state government decided to move around the state to ensure that people feel safe and that there is no compliance to this illegal directive.

“We went through different locations. We toured the schools, markets, financial institutions, and our civil service offices, and we are satisfied with the turnout of the people. It shows that people in Enugu are clearly not aligned with that illegality.

“It is also a demonstration of people’s support for a government and the leadership that completely understands the value of hard work and continues to support their people by creating a sense of security for them to do their business.

“For those teachers and private or public schools that have decided not to show up to school today, the state government, as a policy, is to go back and ensure that those schools are sanctioned adequately.

“This also applies to markets, businesses, financial institutions, and the rest of them. We insist on zero compliance to an illegal directive.”

Anayo Uzuegbu, the Enugu commissioner of police, said sit-at-home is a thing of the past in the state, emphasising the security agency’s determination to deal with “troublemakers”.

“I want to let you know that in Enugu state, this idea of sit-at-home is an aberration. Enugu has outgrown all this scenerio,” Uzuegbu said.

“Enugu is not part of it, and it does not exist here. So, all the propaganda and all the confusion only exist in the imagination of the peddlers.

“I went round, and I am happy with the high level of compliance to the directive of the government that people should do their job and go about their businesses. It was highly phenomenal.

“People are doing their businesses. There is no lapse in security, and we told them that if anybody tried to harass them or they saw something, we have a platform where they can call us.

“So, on behalf of my colleagues, I want to assure the good people of Enugu that their security is guaranteed. Any action of a person or persons to jeopardise the peace of the state will be ruthlessly dealt with. The consequences are going to be very harsh.”

The IPOB has repeatedly said it has called off the weekly sit-at-home in the south-east but many residents are still nursing fears about the group.