Sundiata Post – Government offices, markets, banks, fuel stations and other public outlets, including motor parks were shut in Abia as residents shunned the much talked about national hardship protest.
In Umuahia, the state capital, evidence that the protest would not take place showed in the morning when people stayed out of the streets of the city, reminiscent of the early stages of the IPOB sit-at-home order.
Everywhere remained calm. Residents stayed indoors as the few who came out of their homes moved about freely.
Reports from Aba, the commercial hub of the state, said the situation remained the same, with nobody protesting.
Banks, markets and other public institutions remained closed, but people stayed at home without any form of protest.
There were reports of heavy patrol of security personnel with Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) in the major streets of the commercial city.
There was calm in Awka, Anambra State capital and other major cities across the state.
Reports that by 10am, there was no visible mass protests but commercial banks and fuel stations within Awka were shut down while other commercial activities were ongoing.
Apart from normal commercial activities in the state capital, there was vehicular movement especially within the city while business centres were open for business.
Correspondents who monitored the situation in Awka, Enugu Ebonyi and Nsukka report that as at 9 am, there were scanty vehicular and pedestrian movements in some major roads and streets in the state capital.
Reports that many residents remained indoors while major markets, malls and banks were closed.
At the popular Holy Ghost/Ogbete Market, little economic activities were going on around the motor parks while some banks were shut apparently for the fear of the protest.
There were also heavy presence of security agencies at the strategic location in the state capital to maintain peace and other.
Speaking on the development, the Chairman, Public Affairs Analysts of Nigeria, Enugu Chapter, Mr Ambrose Igboke, it was too early to judge if there would be a protest in Enugu or not.
He said, “From what we have seen so far, there was cautious movement around Enugu. People are being cautious, the streets are empty for now as they try to check the situation to know whether they will come out or not.
“For now, there are no signs of protest anywhere in Enugu or people converging for protest either as an itinerant by procession or protest in a particular location.
“From all indication, people of the South-East are not showing much interest because of the historical of ethnic jingoistic over the past few weeks that it was Igbo protest orchestrated because Peter Obi lost the Presidential Election.”
A youth, Chibueze Ugwu, told NAN that he lost interest in the protest because of the way they treated Igbos in Nigeria.
“Who want to die for nothing and besides, a hungry person does not protest. Apart from that, we have been protesting through our usual Monday sit-at-home, so we do not need to storm the streets to expressway our grievances.”
It was a similar situation in Nsukka as there were skeletal activities and movement in the university town and environs.
Some shops, markets, business centres opened while banks closed their gates for customers.
Few commercial buses, tricycles and motorcycles as well as few people were seen on the roads.
Police patrol vans from Nsukka Police Area Command were seen patrolling around the town.
In Awka, Anambra capital, there was no gathering of people or protesters seen anywhere as banks were shut, businesses operate low scale in the capital city amidst the planned protest.
Reports that filling stations in the town were equally closed to business while intra-city commercial transport operations were normal.
However, the popular Aromma junction was busy with computer service providers, PoS operators and other small businesses operated with caution.
A resident, who wished to be identified as Chijioke, described the situation in Awka as “peaceful”.
Chijioke said the low key activities were because people were afraid of insecurity even though they would have loved to go about their normal businesses.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in Anambra, Mr Nnaghe Itam commended the residents of the state for their peaceful and calm conduct so far.
Itam assured them of the safety of lives and property and urged the people to go about their normal businesses.
In Ebonyi State capital, Abakaliki, banks and major markets were shut while few people were seen going about their normal businesses.
A mother of three, Mrs Anthonia Abam, expressed delight that children were on holidays so she did not have to panic about her children’s whereabouts especially those in the boarding schools.
