By John Ikani
The order by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) demanding residents of the South East and South South states to sit at home on Monday has witnessed total compliance.
The order traditionally observed on the 30th of May was scheduled for Sunday but shifted to Monday, May 31st 2021 with a view to allowing Church activities hold across ‘Biafra land’ and the Diaspora.
About May 30th or Biafra day
May 30, 1967 was the day Late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu declared the separation of the old eastern region from the federal Republic of Nigeria, a declaration which led to the Nigeria civil war between 1967 and 1970.
The day wasn’t of much significance to South Easterners until IPOB and other secessionist groups instituted it amid intense agitations for secession, a development which led the Nigerian government to declare IPOB as a terrorist group.
Compliance to the sit at home order
IPOB is remembering civil war victims over two days, with a candlelit march on Sunday evening and a strict order for people to remain indoors on Monday for their own safety.
Photos and videos from a number of busy streets, express roads and business districts in the South East as seen on microblogging platform Twitter reveal the level of compliance to the order by South Easterners.
Anambra State
Aroma Junction in Akwa, the capital city of Anambra State was deserted this morning according to a post made by @realMaxwellC.
https://twitter.com/realMaxwellC/status/1399271718082994183
Abia State
Similarly a post by @kecypeters suggests there was total compliance to #SitAtHome in Aba as the Aba road in Umuahia was devoid of any form of activity.
#SitAtHome. This is Aba road in Umuahia, my home town. Total compliance of #SitAtHome is been observed pic.twitter.com/tpAxEnZjeX
— Peter Smith (@kecypeters) May 31, 2021
Enugu State
In Enugu State, the ever busy streets of Nssuka were in compliance to the #SitAtHome order as captured by @EChibuihe.
https://twitter.com/EChibuihe/status/1399282623801970688
Imo State
In Imo State, a clip shared by @djxtremesbk_ suggests there was compliance to the #SitAtHome order as cherubim junction along wetheral road owerri, imo state was deserted.
https://twitter.com/djxtremesbk_/status/1399277853238304772
Ebonyi State
Photos shared by @KelechiNwoba suggests there was total compliance to the #SitAtHome order in Ebonyi State as famous Int’l Market Abakaliki was deserted.
https://twitter.com/KelechiNwoba/status/1399306774281437185
Moving on the South South, Igbos living in Rivers and Delta State were in compliance with the #SitAtHome as seen in Photos shared by @realMaxwellC.
https://twitter.com/realMaxwellC/status/1399331954026233861
https://twitter.com/realMaxwellC/status/1399285365937217537