From Harry Awurumibe in Awka, Anambra
Life is gradually returning to the streets in the South East as the sit-at-home order observed every Monday by many people in the geo-political zone for sometime now may have lost steam.
For many months this year, the people of the South East have been observing self-imposed sit-at-home ordered by the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafrans (IPOB) to protest continued detention of their their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who is in the custody of the Nigeria’s Secret Service.
But last Friday, November 5, 2021, the group announced that it is suspending the sit-at-home and went further to encourage voters in Anambra state to go out last Saturday, November 6 to vote for the candidate of their choice in the Anambra state Governorship Election.
Prompt News investigations however revealed that many people on Monday opened their businesses in Imo, Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi states and some parts of Anambra while government offices also operated at full scale.
In Owerri, capital of Imo state, residents were seen going about their businesses with some privately owned small businesses opening their premises while petty traders displayed their ways at the popular Relief market, Ama JK roundabout, Bank road, Wethdral road, Okigwe road and Douglas road.
Some artisans were seen at street corners waiting to be hired for the day while motor mechanics and street traders were also seen going about their chores.
However, commercial banks failed to open for fear of attack by hoodlums as was the case two weeks ago when unknown gunmen invaded Owerri, shooting sporadically to scare the public for not observing sit-at-home order.
Elsewhere, small businesses opened in some parts of Enugu as many people opened their shops along Ziks Avenue, Uwani, Achara Layout, Abakpa Nike and Emene.
In Abia state, shops opened in Umuahia Municipality; Aba and Osisioma as well as in Ogbo Hills just as shops opened in Awka, Anambra state capital and in Ekwulobia.
Abakiliki, capital of Ebonyi state witnessed a low business activities as many people are still afraid of molestation should they open their businesses. Many still doubt if truly the sit-at-home order has been lifted by IPOB.
