The sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra witnessed
total compliance in Abia state, the home state of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of
the group, according to a report by DailyPost.
Recall that on July 31, 2021, the Indigenous People of Biafra
(IPOB) had declared every Monday a sit-at-home day starting from August
9, in solidarity with its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who is currently in
the custody of the Department of the State Service (DSS).
In a statement made available to journalists in Awka by its Media
and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, the successionist group said it
arrived at the decision to press for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the
detained leader of the pro-Biafra group.
IPOB warned residents not to attempt to flout its directive as doing so may come with huge consequences.
The group had said, “We wish to state details of this coming
ghost Mondays every week, our people must understand that it was
designed to show the world how serious we are towards this fight for
Biafra freedom and independence everybody must adhere to this clarion
call put in place by the leadership of IPOB and it would be good for
everyone to know that that IPOB will not relent until Biafra is fully
achieved, the DSS can go ahead and keep our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu
incommunicado without access to him and we observed that DSS operatives
are torturing our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to the point of death that
was why they don’t want anybody to see his state of health in the DSS
facility.
“This is a call for Biafran leaders, politicians especially
those mentioned as those behind his abduction and extradition to
Nigeria, if anything happens to our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu all of
them should prepare never to come back to Biafraland because it will not
accommodate us together”.
Recall that the Federal Government of Nigeria, on Tuesday disclosed
that it rearrested the self-acclaimed Biafran leader after a
collaboration with other international security agencies.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice,
Abubakar Malami, SAN had confirmed that Kanu was arrested by a combined
team of Nigerian and foreign security agents in a coordinated
interception.
Against this backdrop, he was dragged before Justice Binta Nyako of
an Abuja Federal High Court for the continuation of his trial.
Justice Nyako, after listening to Kanu and the government, remanded
him in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS and
adjourned the matter to the 26th day of July 2021.
Kanu had a few years ago jumped bail and escaped from the country over an alleged threat to his life.
On resumption of the proceedings on Monday, July 26, 2021, the
trial suffered a setback after the Department of State Services (DSS)
failed to produce Kanu in court.
Justice Binta Nyako-led High Court faulted the action of the
security outfit, noting that she had stayed back in her chambers waiting
for the defendant to be in court.
She asked the prosecution to be diligent with dates whenever she
gives one, stressing that it was important for Kanu to be present at his
trial.
In his response, the prosecution, Mohammed Abubakar, informed the
judge that the defendant was not in court due to logistics reasons.
Kanu’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, on his part, decried that the DSS had denied them access to the defendant for eight days.
Due to the obvious failure of the Nigerian secret police to produce
Nnamdi Kanu, the presiding judge adjourned the continuation of the
trial to October 21, 2021.
Amid his continued detention, IPOB had vowed to shut down the whole of Southeast every Monday until Kanu is released.
But, Kanu’s brother, Kanunta had announced the suspension of the
sit-at-home order due to students in the Southeast participating in the
National Examination Council, NECO, examination for senior secondary
schools.
He had said a new date for the protest would be communicated later.
However, IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful urged Nigerians to disregard the remark by Kanunta.
Powerful warned people of the Southeast against flouting the directive.
Following the DSS inability to produce Kanu in court, as well as
the earlier sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra across
states of the southeast region and beyond, the police in Abia, the home
state of the separatist leader, had in a statement signed by the Police
Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna, warned the group
against the unlawful directive, hinting its warning on IPOB’s
proscription by the Nigerian government.
The Police accused the proscribed group of planning to use its
militia arm, the Eastern Security Network, ESN, to force compliance of
the sit-at-home order in the state.
The Security Agency said intelligence reports revealed that
hoodlums had also planned to use the occasion to unleash mayhem on the
people.
The Abia Police urged the people to go about their lawful
businesses, stressing that security agents were on red alert to subdue
hoodlums that might want to exploit the situation to cause havoc in
Abia.
Meanwhile, making its position known relating to the IPOB
directive, the Abia government had in a press release issued by the
State Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu at the
weekend, said it will not compel anyone wishing to ‘sit at home’ for any
reason or whatsoever not to do so, as citizens have freedom of movement
under the extant Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
This was even as the state government said it was actively
monitoring the trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to ensure that his fundamental
human rights are respected.
According to the release, “We remain in touch with his family
members, other relevant persons and institutions, and receive regular
updates through them on the situation.
“The Abia State Government is confident that the judiciary will
ensure a free and manifestly fair trial for him and others, as they
remain innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent
jurisdiction”, it stated.
It further called on all citizens and visitors to continue to be
law-abiding and avoid any acts that might lead to a breakdown of law and
order.
Also, amid insistence by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to
shut down the entire southeast region with the sit-at-home directive
despite several warnings by the Nigeria security agencies, DAILY POST
gathered that there was a partial movement of vehicles as occupants
mostly civil servants were seen driving to their various offices.
Our correspondent had toured the state to access the level of
compliance of the sit-at-home order by the residents of Abia, on Monday.
A visit to the popular Secretariate at Ogurube layout housing state
government ministries in Umuahia saw the massive presence of state
civil servants carrying out their responsibilities to avoid the state
government’s threat to sanction any worker who observes the sit at home
order by IPOB.
Private and public school pupils and students were seen returning homes in compliance with the sit-at-home order.
In a chat with our correspondent, Chukwunyere Uche Ugele who did
not want his ministry disclosed, expressed fears on the manner the
federal government was handling the treasonable felony charges against
the separatist organization and its overall powerful leader, Mazi Nnamdi
Kanu.
He urged the government to deeply look into the IPOB’s demands to
douse the already heightened tensions in the country, particularly in
the southeast zone.
He further warned the Nigerian government to be fair in its
persecution of Kanu as it would not augur well to the country if they
toe contrary against the laws of the land.
Ugele regretted the confusion trailing the sit-at-home directive
and stressed the essential need by the Nnamdi Kanu’s family and the
leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra to close ranks to ensure
unconditional release of the pro-Biafran agitator.
Also, a visit to the ever-busy Aba road, Akanu Ibiam/Bank road,
Umuwaya road, Azikwe road in Umuahia, saw total compliance to the
sit-at-home order by residents of the areas.
Many residents were indoors, commercial motorists avoided their
daily conveyance of traders as normally seen while all commercial banks
situated in Aba road Umuahia were under lock and key in compliance with
the IPOB directive for fear of adverse consequences of violating the
directive.
Nwankwo Ugonna, who described himself as a commercial motorist, in
an interview regretted the tension in the entire southeast caused by the
rearrest of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, calling on the federal government to see
reasons with the legitimate demands of IPOB and other pro-Biafran groups
in the southeast zone and beyond.
He lamented that the people of the Igbo nation. particularly have
suffered severe injustices and inequalities occasioned by the bad
leaderships of successive administrations in Nigeria.
Ugonna aligned with the demands of the pro-Biafran group for
separation as he equally regretted that the present Nigerian system has
collapsed due to the long-aged marginalization of the Igbo race and
other ethnic nationalities in the country.
He further attributed the confusion that trailed the IPOB order
between the Nnamdi Kanu’s family and the leadership of the successionist
organization, positing that the counter directive by Kanu’s brother was
politically sponsored to cause disarray among the people of the
southeast region.
A similar visit to Aba, the commercial hub centre of Abia State,
where the detained IPOB leader has large followers by DAILY POST saw
complete compliance with the sit-at-home order by the residents of the
city.
Commercial banks, motorists, traders, school pupils, students, etc adhered to the order.
Private and public owned schools shut down their academic
activities for fear of attack following the threat by the IPOB to deal
decisively with any institution that flouts its directive.
Popular Aba markets such as Eziukwu Markets, Ariaria International
Market Ahia Ohuru were locked up by the leadership of the Market Unions,
as it was further gathered that these major markets are populated by
members and supporters of Nnamdi Kanu’s IPOB.
Azikiwe Road, Aba-Owerri road, Brass, Milverton Avenue etc were
equally deserted by motorists, and street traders usually seen on that
axis were not there in adherence to the sit at home order.
In an interview with DAILY POST, a resident of Aba city, Cosmos
Chinaza urged the government to toe the path of law in the handling of
the IPOB agitation, saying anything outside the provisions of the law as
regards the fundamental rights of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will not be
acceptable.
He insisted that the detained successionist leader was toeing the
path of law in his legitimate demands until his rearrest, advising
Buhari led government to withdraw the treason charges preferred against
Kanu and ensure his unconditional release.
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