Last Thursday, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had reaffirmed that there was no sit-at-home on Mondays again in the South East region.
Commercial activities are gradually resuming on Monday in some parts of the South-East region but most schoolchildren still prefer to stay at home despite the cancellation of the sit-at-home order, SaharaReporters has learnt.
Last Thursday, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had reaffirmed that there was no sit-at-home on Mondays again in the South East region.
IPOB had stated that anyone caught compelling a sit-at-home when people are going about their businesses was an agent of the Department of State Services and the Nigerian security agencies as it detached itself from such.
Some months ago, the group declared the weekly order to press home their demands for the release of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
The action had crippled economic activities in the South East region.
However, in a statement signed by its Secretary Media and Publicity, Emma Powerful, the group cancelled the order and asked the people of the region to go about their duties.
A resident of New Haven in Enugu metropolis told SaharaReporters that activities have resumed in the state but residents had yet to fully adopt Mondays as a day for work.
She said, “I am currently in Enugu. There's a difference between today and other Mondays in the last few weeks but activities have not resumed fully like other days.
“Some schools are now opened today whereas last week, students did not go to school. However, fear caused some students not to come, hence their reasons for Saturday's classes.”
Sunday Elom, a resident of Awka in Anambra state said the recently concluded governorship election in the state had dispelled fears of a good number of people.
According to him, the peaceful conduct of the elections without disruption by hoodlums or any secessionist group has instilled confidence in the people who have started visiting markets.
He, however, observed that while the sit at home was already fading out, some residents have remained indoors for fear of being attacked.
“The sit-at-home is becoming relaxed but people are still observing it. People are not coming out like other days. Today cannot be compared to the last Mondays in past weeks.
“Normally shops in the streets open even with the Sit-At-Home but shops in the markets and major points either don't open or open strategically while they remain at alert. In terms of travelling, people are scared and are afraid of attacks by hoodlums not even IPOB members.
“Sincerely, it's been long IPOB attacked people for Sit-At-Home like this but hoodlums have been taking advantage of it, dressing like IPOB members to attack and Rob people so that fear has stopped people from travelling. It's just few, only those who feel what they're going for is important.
“But the children in my compound did not go to school. This is not the first statement IPOB issued. If you remember that attack on a secondary school in Imo, they issued a statement that they will pay for all that has been stolen from the school.
“They also said they will come up with a task force to arrest those who pretend to be IPOB members and unleash terror on the people but there is a problem and the problem is that people don't believe their statements. Those attacking people dress like IPOB members.
“One funny problem is that most of IPOB real members are like smokers, street urchins, drunkards and there is hardly a difference between them and hoodlums in appearance. That's why it is always easy for hoodlums to appear like them.
“People are beginning to come out especially after the elections. The fact that the election was not disrupted gave people confidence.
“Last Monday, I went to Eke-Awka market and everywhere was filled up. We went to buy phone, foodstuffs and we got everything we want. I believe today, it will be the same. That ember of sit at home is beginning to reduce.”
He further said a friend in Enugu State who teaches in a Primary School got a text on Sunday prompting her to resume to school on Monday (today).
Ilonma Nwaku, a petty trader at Relief Market, said she could not have been happier.
It was also observed that activities at commercial banks picked up as customers jostled to get into the banks.