Panic in Owerri over IPOB’s sit-at-home order

There was panic in Owerri, the Imo state capital, on Monday as residents scampered for safety after allegedly hearing sounds of gunshots.

The development caused residents to run helter-skelter, with many believing it was an attempt to enforce the sit-at-home order of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Residents were seen scampering for safety as banks, shops, and schools were forced to close for the day.

Kingsley Uchenna, a resident, said he had to “make a u-turn back to my house” following the alleged shooting.

Chioma Juliet, another resident, said: “I quickly rushed to my children’s school in Orji to bring them back home like other parents are doing, we don’t understand what is happening again after they said they have canceled Monday sit at home.

“Government and security agencies should rise up to the occasion by providing adequate security to enable us to go about our daily activities without any fear.”

Although several residents insist that IPOB members were behind the shooting, the police denied the claims.

Michael Abattam, the police spokesman in the state, described the situation as “artificial fear”.

“People created unnecessary and artificial fear which made people to start running without knowing what happened and hoodlums are cashing in on that,” he said.

“Nobody was killed and there was no shooting anywhere, people are going about their normal businesses before now.”

Abattam said the command has enough security personnel in the state capital and other parts to prevent the breakdown of law and order.

IPOB had 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).

The proscribed group said the lockdown tagged ‘Ghost Monday’ will also affect schools and marketplaces.

Kanu, who was extradited to Nigeria by the federal government, is standing trial for treasonable felony, among other charges, at the federal high court, Abuja.