•Abia residents ignore sit-at-home
•Fears in Orlu, Okigwe
Contrary to the reports that there were sporadic gunshots in major cities of Enugu,
a blog site JOURNALIST101 reports that except the ugly incident at Topland, Amechi Road, there was no shooting anywhere else in the state capital.
The reports pandemonium at Nowas, Okpara Avenue, Abakpa Market, GRA, Holyghost, Uwani, Trans Ekulu, etc., as a result of sporadic gunshots was misleading to the public misleading.
According to Journalist101, the confusion was as a result false information and panic. No single person out of the many persons that spoke to our correspondents could confirm any gunshot in those areas but people were afraid.
Road traders along Mayor markets and Kenyetta were seen by our correspondent carrying out their commercial activities while security operatives deployed to the area were seen on the major roads.
Enugu Police say situation under control
When contacted, the Enugu State Police Command spokesman, Daniel Ndukwe said they’re yet to confirm any shooting in the state capital except the Topland Amechi-Awkunanaw incident.
Ndukwe, an Assistant Superintendent of Police in a terse statement said the disturbances were at Umueze and Agbani axis of Nkanu West LGA of the State and the situation has been brought under control.
“Following the alleged cases of sporadic shootings at Topland Amechi-Awkunanaw, snatching and burning a of Toyota Sienna vehicle and a tricycle at Umueze and Agbani axis of Nkanu West LGA of the State, by miscreants alleged to be enforcing illegal sit-at-home order, which caused panic within Enugu metropolis in the morning hours of today, 10/01/2022; citizens of Enugu metropolis and the State in general, are hereby assured that the Police, in collaboration with other Security Agencies, has brought the situation under control.
“Consequently, law-abiding citizens of the State have been enjoined to go about their lawful businesses without fear of intimidation or harassment, as Police and other Security Operatives, have been duly deployed to further thwart the untoward activities of the miscreants in the State.
“Further development will be communicated, please.”
Fears in Orlu, Okigwe
Sit-at-home order of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, is still effective in Orlu and Okigwe local government areas.
Vanguard on Monday learnt from these locations that most shops, markets and other business premises were shut down.
Vanguard was told that the residents said they decided to sit home for fear of being killed by stray bullets or those enforcers of the sit-at-home order.
One of the residents in Orlu who spoke to Vanguard preferred to be called Chinedu Iwu, said: “I now see Monday as a public holiday. We don’t go out we stay at home from morning to night. This started since the killings in Orlu became very serious.
“You come out before you know it somebody will come best you up or destroy your properties. If you eventually come out just prepare to run in case you hear a gunshot.”
“In Orlu now, it is a terrible place to leave. One day one trouble. You killing hear the other time you hear shooting of guns. It is not as if I cannot come out anything can happen. I will run but what of my wife and kids. Orlu is hot,” A resident, Mr Chibyke explained.
A bus driver said his name Nmaduabuchi, who spoke to Vanguard on the situation in Okigwe axis said: “I don’t know how Okigwe is becoming hot now. Monday’s you see people running home and stay that they don’t want the unknown gunmen to kill them.
“For us, the bus driver, driving from Owerri to Okigwe is possible but consider it that you are taking a very big risk. It can result in your death or your vehicle being burnt to ashes. Accept if you have enough security to protect yourself.”
Owerri booms
Economic activities in Owerri, Imo State capital operated on a full scale on Monday.
Vanguard correspondent who went round the city, observed banks, eateries, filling stations and other business outfits open for operation.
Control Post, Amakohia, Orji, Ikenegbu Layout, Wetheral, Douglas, MCC roads had their usual bustling and hustling.
Commercial vehicles also operated in full scale.
The situation was an improvement from what it was last Monday, as the city hadn’t its life, owing to the public holiday declared last week by the federal government and the Christmas holiday.
Residents of the city had since resumed economic activities on Monday after observing sit-at-home for six consecutive weeks.
Vehicles on fire in Anambra
There was pandemonium on Monday in Oko, Orumba North Local Government Area and Ekwulobia, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State following heavy shootings by suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Residents of the area scampered for safety as the gunmen, purportedly enforcing the Monday sit-at-home, shot sporadically within the boundary of both communities.
The Nation gathered the gunmen set ablaze a Toyota Sienna vehicle belonging to an unidentified indigene of Isuofia, a neighbouring community to Ekwulobia.
A resident of the area, who preferred anonymity, said: “The man was driving past the area when the men started shooting. He suddenly jumped out and fled, abandoning the car in the middle of the road.
“Unfortunately, before he could return, his car was already in flames.”
Confirming the incident, Police spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga said the Commissioner of Police, Echeng Echeng, had deployed men to the area.
He said: “The Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng has since ordered reinforcement teams from the command headquarters to intensify patrols around major areas like Onitsha, Nnewi, Ihiala, Aguata, Awka and other environs in the State.
“The reinforcement teams comprise Police Mobile Operatives, Counter-Terrorist Units, Special Forces and other tactical teams. They are to address any security concern that may arise and to forestall any breakdown of law and order in the State.”
Those trying to avert sit –at –home got trapped at Onitsha head Bridge
Many people who tried to beat the Monday sit-at- home and decided to pass the Anambra end of the Niger Bridge on Sunday became trapped and ended up spending the night between Onitsha and Asaba in Delta State.
Although the cause of what was considered the worst traffic gridlock on the Bridge head was attributed to the multiple checkpoints by security operatives on the foot of the bridge, yesterday’s chaos was due to the decision of most people who were billed to be in their offices by Monday morning to leave for their destinations on Sunday.
For instance, many vehicles that left with their passengers from Enugu, Aba, Owerri, Abakaliki, Onitsha and other parts of the South East spent several hours on the bridge as commuters stood still on both sides of Onitsha and Asaba.
A staff in one of the federal establishments in Lagos, Mr. Kene Obi , who boarded God Is Good Motors at Awka and hoping to be in Lagos later in the day to get ready for work on Monday said he arrived Lagos in the early hours of Monday.
He told Vanguard: “It appeared that everybody who came home for Christmas and New Year celebrations chose to leave the South East at the same time to beat the Monday –at –home and that was the reason for the gridlock at Onitsha.
“We left the motor park at Awka at 7.00 am and by 8.00am, we were already at the head bridge only to remain there till 8.00 pm. I have never experienced such traffic in my life. The fear of Monday sit-at-home was the cause of the problem because most people were on the road at the same time so as to be away from Anambra State before Monday”.
Abia residents ignore sit-at-home
Economic and commercial activities were at their full swing in Umuahia the Abia State capital as residents ignored the phobia associated with the Monday sit-at-home order.
The roads were also very busy with human and vehicular traffics as people went about their businesses without molestations.
Schools also opened just as the banks fully operated.
All the markets in town, as well as street shops, opened for business.
The motor parks were fully open as travellers, especially those returning from Christmas and New Year holidays were being conveyed without hitches.
Reports from Aba also said there were free movements, unlike previous Mondays before the Yuletide.
There was no incidence of clash with security agents in any part of the state.
