By Kamsi Anayo
An uneasy calm over fear of the unknown gripped Onitsha, the commercial hub of Anambra state and its environs, resulting to about 50 per cent compliance in today’s Monday sit-at-home order.
This turnout contradicts the previous ones where residents in their large number, of about 75 per cent defied the order.
The continuous sit-at-home exercise was imposed by Simon Ekpa’s pro-Biafra group in the South-East geo-political zone.
The exercise was initially introduced by the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), the frontline secessionist movement in the South East.
The group said the exercise was initiated to protest against the extraordinary rendition of its leader Nnamdi Kanu, from Kenya in 2021.
IPOB however aborted it when another disciple of the secessionist leader, Simon Ekpa, hijacked and continued to enforce it with his armed militia.
Reacting to the fear of the unknown, a tricycle operator who identified himself as Mr Bennett Nwafor, said that, “Palpable fear gripped the people because of Ekpa, who based in Finland issued another two weeks’ sit-at-home order to Southeast region.
“People fear that he will send his boys to enforce the sit-at-home order because it is always an opportunity for them to attack, maim, rob, kidnap and assassinate their innocent Southeast brothers in the name of fighting to release Nnamdi Kanu.
“What saved the situation is the personal counter letter by Nnamdi Kanu, using his hand writing to condemn Ekpa and his criminal orders.
“We thank also whoever that may have permitted that Kanu consults his medical doctor outside the DSS cell. That assures us that if he is released, Ekpa’s hope of milking the people in the Southeast through enforcement of non existent sit-at-home will be dashed,” he said.
Contributing, another tricycle operator who simply identified himself as “Daddy”, expressed satisfaction with Kanu’s attack on Ekpa and advised Ekpa to remain in Finland for his own safety.
He noted that Ekpa’s actions have sent some people to their early graves.
“He should better remain in Finland because he has caused sudden death of innocent people. Those who lost their loved ones would not let him go free. We thank Kanu for exposing him, he will suffer for what he is doing to the Igbos.
“The 50 per cent compliance on sit-at-home is because of the Ekpa announcement before Kanu countered it. Ekpa and his criminal gang capitalise on sit-at-home to exploit, rob and kidnap, by deploying enforcers for the order.
“With this Kanu’s letter, Ekpa has been disappointed. Everyday for the thief and one day for the owner of the goods,” he stated.
A trader in Nnewi who did not want his name in the print accused Ekpa of selfishness, adding that he had wanted to take over IPOB leadership
“Ekpa’s prayer is that Kanu will remain in DSS custody and possibly die there to enable him to over shadow other IPOB members and make himself the leader, but he has failed” he added.