Southeast Nigeria witness complete lockdown as Igbos observe #SitAtHome to remember war heroes, victims

#SitAtHome: Eastern states record high compliance

Nigeria’s Southeast region on Monday went on total lockdown as the Igbo nation complied with a #SitAtHome directive by a separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

According to some residents of Southeast Nigeria who spoke to NigeriaToday, this year saw the highest compliance since the #SItAtHome memorial day started decades ago. 

“This year has been the highest we have seen in decades. In the entire Enugu metropolis, you would not see a single individual on the road except police and military convoy. Not a single shop is opened. It is that serious,” an Enugu resident who prefers anonymity told Nigeria Today.

According to the resident, the compliance was so serious that some workers who were on night duty on Sunday could not return home by Monday morning, as there was heightened tension in the city.

READ ALSO: The untold stories of IPOB, police clash in Enugu

The report we received from Owerri, the Imo State capital also revealed that the city recorded a similar level of compliance. In Imo, the assassination of the former aide to former President Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak on Sunday morning heightened the tension in the state and consequently fuelled full compliance.

A resident of Onitsha, Anambra State also told Nigeria Today that the city was known to have always complied with the memorial day #SitAtHome and that it was no different this year. He, however, added that the security breakdown in the region had made it even more imperative for compliance.

The report we received from Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital also showed that there was full compliance, despite the efforts of Governor David Umahi to keep the people from taking part.

Reports show that full compliance was also recorded in other Southeast cities and towns including Aba, Umuahia, Nsukka, Awka, etc. The #SitAtHome has been observed every May 30th for the past decades to remember the over five million Igbos who perished in a brutal civil war with Nigeria between 1966 and 1970.

The leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu had threatened with death, anyone who would disobey the #SitAtHome directive. Although his threats are nothing new, the breakdown of law and order in some parts of the region,especially Imo had left many with little choice but to fully comply with the directive as part of measures to remain safe.