IPOB: Again, Anambra Shuts Down as NSCDC Denies Attack on Personnel

By David-Chyddy Eleke

For the fourth Monday in a row, streets, markets, banks, schools, motor parks and other public offices were yesterday shut down in Anambra State in observance of the sit-at-home order already called off by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

IPOB had a month ago called for the shutdown of the South-east economy every Monday in solidarity with its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who is being detained by the federal government, and undergoing trial.

After the first Monday of the exercise, which was adjudged to have been wholly complied with, the group suspended the exercise following a wide outcry by the people on the danger it portends for the South-east economy.

The group said the exercise would only hold on days Kanu would be taken to court.

But three Mondays since after its suspension, cities in the South-east region, especially in Anambra State, have continued to observe the exercise.

In Onitsha, Nnewi and Awka, Anambra State, yesterday, THISDAY, who went round the towns to monitor the situation, observed that markets, streets and motor parks were all deserted. Banks and other public offices were also shut down.

Spokesperson of IPOB, Mr. Emma Powerful, had in previous weeks said the group would no longer enforce the sit-at-home order, but would urge anyone who wants to observe it to do so.

He said the order to call off the exercise was communicated by Kanu from DSS cell.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Anambra State Command, has denied rumours that its personnel were yesterday attacked in the state, stating that the rumours were unfounded.

The Command was reacting to a video circulating on social media in which gunmen suspected to be secessionists attacked a van carrying Civil Defence personnel, killing one person and setting ablaze the Command’s patrol van, which had the inscription: ‘Donated by Anambra State Government’.

The Command’s spokesperson, Mr. Edwin Okadigbo, in a statement said no patrol van belonging to the Command was missing or damaged, calling on the people of the state to discard the rumours.

He said: “The attention of the NSCDC, Anambra State Command, has been drawn to a video circulating on social media insinuating that the Civil Defence Corps officers and vehicle were attacked yesterday at Nenyi, Umueri in Anambra East LGA.

“We wish to state that there is no iota of truth in the video in circulation. All NSCDC facilities in Anambra State are safe and calm. In addition, all operational vehicles in the state deployed for assignment are without any untoward incident today (yesterday).