ADVERTISEMENT
  • The Membership Club
  • PT Hausa
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Saturday, March 6, 2021
Premium Times Nigeria
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
Premium Times Nigeria
BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
South-East residents defy MASSOB’s sit-at-home directive

Onitsha

South-East residents defy MASSOB’s sit-at-home directive

byChukwuemerie UduchukwuandAgency Report
June 8, 2013
3 min read

MASSOB had ordered a sit at home in the five South East states.

Residents of South-East states on Saturday defied the directive of MASSOB to sit at home in protest against the killing of Igbo people in the North by the Boko Haram sect.

The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, had issued the directive to residents in the states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo.

In Imo, the residents went about their normal businesses in spite of the MASSOB directive, following a statement by the state government.

The Commissioner for Information in Imo, Chinedu Offor, had in a statement, urged the people to ignore the directive and go about their normal businesses.

Also in Abakaliki, the markets were open and people carried on their normal businesses.

Basil Akilo, a businessman, said, “It is difficult for people to forsake their business activities for a cause which would not have direct impact on them.”

The Ebonyi Police Command Public Relations Officer, Sylvester Igbo, said although individuals or groups had the right to express their views, it should not constitute a threat to public peace.

“We have, therefore, stationed our officers at strategic positions of the town and other parts of the state to forestall the breakdown of law and order.

RelatedNews

Blood on Uniforms (2): No justice for inmates killed by Nigerian prison officials

Army declares 12 officers, 89 soldiers wanted for deserting warfront (FULL LIST)

COVID-19: Nigeria records 479 new cases, eight deaths

AfDB approves $320,000 for gender digital financial operations in Nigeria, others

“We call on the citizens to go about their businesses without fear and report suspicious persons or movements to security agencies,” Mr. Igbo said.

In Umuahia, armed policemen and other security agencies, paraded major streets.

Some traders, who opened their shops, said they did so because of the tight security provided in the state capital.

Dangote adbanner 728x90_2 (1)

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Geoffery Ogbonna, said that the police adopted a proactive approach to neutralise the MASSOB directive.

“Our aim was to nip their intention in the bud to ensure that residents carried out their normal activities.

“That was a proactive measure which we carried out,” he said.

In Aba, the commercial capital of Abia, business activities did not commence early in the morning as shops opened about noon even in the ever busy Asa-Park Road axis.

John Nwiwu, a motor park worker, said that he and some others had to wait till their colleagues who came on surveillance reported back.

“Right now you can see that the park is full. It was not so some hours ago.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Our people stayed at home until some of our men who came out to see what was happening reported back to us on phone that there was no problem.

“Now everybody is here and passengers are being moved to all the destinations that buses and taxis in this park go to,” he said.

But in Onitsha, Anambra, security operatives dispersed MASSOB members, who came out to make bon-fires on major roads of the commercial town.

More than 200 policemen supported by detachments of the army and navy were stationed in strategic locations in the town.

Rommy Ezeonwuka, a chieftain of Ohaneze in Anambra, said the signs of compliance with the directive noticed in the town were due to fear instilled in the people.

“Brave people among the people went out and nobody molested or waylaid anyone,’’ he said.

In Awka, the Anambra capital, there was low human and vehicular traffic.

Although the city was calm, the popular Enugu-Onitsha road was deserted.

Our contributor, Chukwuemerie Uduchukwu, said 95 per cent of shops in Awka were closed and that the popular normally busy Ziks Avenue was totally deserted, with only a few residents and vehicles, mainly Keke NAPEP tricycles, seen on the street.

Ziks Avenue deserted following MASSOB sit-at-home order... Photo: Chukwuemerie Uduchukwu
Ziks Avenue deserted following MASSOB sit-at-home order… Photo: Chukwuemerie Uduchukwu

Many residents, he said, admitted they were observing the directive out of fear as there were no presence of security agents on the streets.

However, others said that they were obeying the directive to show their support for a sovereign Igbo nation.

No security agent was sighted from Zik avenue to Nkwo Amenyi in Awka and this might have increased the fear of residents to defile the MASSOB directive.

At Eke-Awka Market, the major market in the town, shops remained shut as the vigilance group in-charge of security in the market did not allow traders to gain entry into the facility.

There were bon-fires at Oye-Agu Junction but sources say that the MASSOB members were dispersed by security operatives.

A resident, Chuma Ndukaife, said he did not want to risk going out because of the uncertainty of the security situation.

“I cannot go out because I am confused with the different statements.

“MASSOB said we should be indoors and the government said otherwise but as you can see, the streets are empty,” he said.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Anambra, Emeka Chukwuemeka, said the sit-at-home directive failed since there was vehicular and human movement throughout the state.

A NAN correspondent in Nsukka, Enugu State, reported that there was heavy police presence around Ogige Market, while many shops remained closed.

When contacted, the Divisional Police Officer, James Nwokolo, said that duty of police was to provide security for residents.

“Our duty is to provide security for residents, we will not force anybody to open his or her shop.

“Policemen are everywhere to ensure that nobody molested anybody who wanted to do his lawful business,“ he said.

 

  • WhatsApp
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • Telegram
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Pocket

Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate


TEXT AD: To advertise here . Call Willie +2347088095401...



JOIN THE CONVERSATION

  • Disqus (0)
premiumtimes



PT Mag Campaign AD

Previous Post

Corpses litter Maiduguri as Boko Haram, soldiers kill 29 in two days

Next Post

Abuja taxi drivers lament ban on mini buses

Chukwuemerie Uduchukwu

Chukwuemerie Uduchukwu

Agency Report

Agency Report

More News

ACompleted phase 1 housing units at Earthpoint and Modern Shelter estate

SPECIAL REPORT: Years after paying millions to developers, Abuja residents stranded without homes

March 6, 2021
APC FLag used to illustrate the story.

Ex-APC chairman quits party after Supreme Court ruling

March 6, 2021
COVID-19 vaccine. [CREDIT: Duetsche Welle]

COVID-19: As Nigeria commences vaccination, many citizens remain sceptical

March 6, 2021
SEC logo

Nigeria’s SEC receives $400,000 AfDB grant to strengthen securities market

March 6, 2021
One of the houses in Oduroin community

SPECIAL REPORT: ‘Regular handwashing? We don’t even have water to drink’

March 6, 2021
President Muhammadu Buhari [Photo: Presidency]

COVID-19: Buhari to be vaccinated today – Official

March 6, 2021
Next Post
Eight public facilities that have gone extinct in Abuja

Abuja taxi drivers lament ban on mini buses

Police redeploy DPO over killing of University of Benin student

Nigeria police chief orders investigation of death of university, UNIBEN, student

Discussion about this post

Search

#EndSARS: Latest Updates




Polaris Bank


JAIZ Ad


Access Bank Ad


NITDA Ad





Glo Ad

Subscribe to News via Email

Enter your email address and receive notifications of news by email.

Join 1,629,457 other subscribers.

Advertisement






netherland biz school Advert



Zenith Advert

ADVERTISEMENT

Our Digital Network

  • PT Hausa
  • Election Centre
  • Human Trafficking Investigation
  • Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • National Conference
  • Press Attack Tracker
  • PT Academy
  • Dubawa
  • LeaksNG
  • Campus Reporter

Resources

  • Oil & Gas Facts
  • List of Universities in Nigeria
  • LIST: Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
  • NYSC Orientation Camps in Nigeria
  • Nigeria’s Federal/States’ Budgets since 2005
  • Malabu Scandal Thread
  • World Cup 2018
  • Panama Papers Game
  • Our Digital Network
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Data & Infographics
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • Parliament Watch
    • AGAHRIN
  • Opinion
  • PT Hausa
  • The Membership Club
  • Dubawa
    • Dubawa NG
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Store
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.