Sit-at-home, Bandits Threats, Roads Deserted & Businesses Shut In Aba

In Aba today, roads were deserted and businesses shut in Aba, Abia State, owing to the threat by suspected bandits who promised to storm the city over noncompliance with the sit at home order.

The sit-at-home protest which has been cancelled by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, is no longer observed in Aba.

In a video which went viral, the group accused the residents of the city of not observing the sit-at-home order which holds every Monday.

They promised to storm the city on an ‘evangelism outreach’, which would begin today, (Monday).

Reporters observed that the threat sent fear into the residents of the city as all the roads were empty and business centres including markets and banks and schools were all closed for activities.

Several teams of soldiers and police were seen patrolling the city centre and other areas like Ogbor Hill, Aba-Owerri road, Ngwa road, amongst others. However, this failed to make the residents resume their businesses as very few tricycle called keke could be seen trying to make ends meet.

A cross section of residents of the city who spoke to reporters said they were afraid to open their shops because of fear of attack from hoodlums and touts.

“People are afraid to come out for their businesses because we are afraid of attacks from hoodlums. But we are appealing to those issuing these threats to think twice. People can’t afford to feed their families. Many families are already suffering. The sit at home and threats are causing more pain and fear among the same people they want to liberate,” the residents told reporters.