World enews: Streets Deserted As Imo Residents Observe Sit-at-home Despite Suspension Of Exercise By IPOB

Despite the suspension of the sit-at-home order earlier imposed by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to win solidarity for its leader, Nnamdi Kanu over his trials at the court, commercial activities were on Monday grounded in major parts of Owerri, the capital of Imo State,

IPOB had on July 30, ordered a sit-at-home in the south-east every Monday until Kanu, its leader, is released from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

However, on August 14, the group announced a suspension of the order.

But many weeks later, business activities are still grounded every Monday out of fear of the unknown.

Residents told SaharaReporters that motor parks in Okigwe and Oguta are currently empty, with no commercial vehicles available, while mobile food vendors were nowhere to be seen.

Sources said armed mobile policemen were seen patrolling the roads and streets in their vehicles, while some of them manned strategic government installations and popular junctions.

The popular Eke -Uku Owerri on Douglas Road was also said to be deserted with only a few traders managing to open for business.

Banks were also not left out as they also shut their doors in the 3 zones of the state.

Also, major roads that used to experience a beehive of activities in Owerri were deserted with a few vehicles plying the roads.

In June, Kanu was arrested in Kenya and brought to Nigeria.

He was subsequently arraigned masked before Binta Nyako, a Judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja who asked him to be remanded at the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Kanu is facing charges bordering on treasonable felony instituted against him at the court in response to years of the campaign for the independent Republic of Biafra through IPOB.