Several residents on Monday complied with the sit-at-home order issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Abia State, southeast Nigeria. The mass action was declared in protest of the arrest, detention, and prosecution of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kalu.
The statement by a faction of IPOB had earlier called off the sit-at-home order but many residents of the state from Aba to Umuahia rejected the call off action and insisted on observing the sit-at-home order.
The IPOB faction which called off the order in a statement earlier, indicated that the order was meant for only the day Nnamdi Kanu will be arraigned in court.
It was gathered that the Bank Road in Umuahia, Abia State capital, is being deserted, bank transactions closed for the day. Some shops were also said to be shut this Monday.
However, few private and public vehicles were seen on the roads, but the residents were said to be scared of coming out.
The commercial hub of the state, Aba, was gathered to be empty; few shops were said to be open for business, though entrance gates to commercial banks in the city were said to be shut.
Residents of Abia State are now making Monday a cultural sit-at-home day.