Sit-at-home order: security heightens in five States of the South-East

Security agencies are engaging confidence-building patrols known as ‘Show of Force’ ready to battle the Biafra separatist group in the five states of the South-East, Ahead of the two-day sit-at-home order declared by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) which begins today

The police have reacted to a viral video calling for

The two-day sit-at-home called in the South-East region of Imo, Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi and Anambra states was received with no smile by the police,  who has beefed up security presence across major city centres and suburban areas.

In a claimed solidarity towards realising Biafra nation, IPOB, through its Eastern Security Network (ESN), declared Monday and Tuesday sit-at-home, instructing all residents in the South-East to remain at their residences, close their shops, schools, banks and other business outlets. The group through a viral video on social media platforms, also vowed to deal ruthlessly with violators.

In a statement, spokesperson for Imo State Police Command, Henry Okoye, advised Imo residents to go about their businesses, assuring them of their safety by the combined patrols of police, armed forces and sister security agencies in the state, according to a report by Guardian Newspaper.

It was gathered that security agencies in Aba repelled members of the IPOB, who had attempted to come into the city centre on Friday to cause fear among visitors and residents; they tried to create awareness of their planned sit-at-home as they used to do, but were resisted by the security agencies who had manned various flash spots.

Meanwhile, the Enugu State Government has also dismissed the illegal sit-at-home order by faceless persons, noting that the state had since gone past that era. The government, therefore, directed citizens to go about their lawful businesses, as every inch of Enugu State had been well covered by the security agencies and infrastructure to assure security of lives and property.

This was even as the Enugu State Command of the Nigeria Police also countermanded the sit-at-home advisory by criminal elements, declaring that any attempt to disrupt peace and security in the state would be met with “decisive action.”

In a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, on Sunday, the government said, “The Dr Peter Mbah administration has demonstrated the will and capacity to keep the state safe. The state has put in place adequate security arrangements and infrastructure to track down and deal with every criminal that wants to test the will of the government and Ndi Enugu on this matter.

“Also, workers and businesses that fail to turn up at their places of work or business will have themselves to blame for sabotaging the effort of the government to maintain law and order in the state,” Onyia stated.