Activities in the most parts of South-East Nigeria were yesterday stalled as the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) continued its protest for the release of its leader and Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
Though the protest was peaceful, vehicular movement was grounded as the group marched on double lanes of major roads.
The Aba-Owerri Road, Azikiwe Road, Faulks Road, Tonimas, Aba-Ikot Ekpene Expressway and other entry and exit routes were blocked.
It was gathered that the group, yesterday, went round major markets in Aba and warned traders against opening for business. The order was obeyed except for shop owners within streets who though opened, closed down upon sighting the crowd.
Most public and private schools opened for business though they said it was a risky gamble owing to the tension in town. Most proproetors said they could not close as they were preparing for the December break.
Banks witnessed low patronage as only few customers came for business.
Sources said the protesters blocked the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway and prevented vehicles from entering Aba.
The protesters said they would not relent in their quest to get freedom for Kanu. 65- year-old Jude Iheme, a pastor, said the actualisation of Biafra was revealed to him in a dream and so he would not relent until Biafra was realised.
“I don’t believe in violence or arms bandying because I am a pastor. Since I got a revelation about Biafra, I have been preaching about it everywhere I go and always joined any pro-Biafra protest because we need to be free.”
Another protester said the protest would continue so far the Federal Government refuses to release Nnamdi Kanu, saying that there would be another protest on the next adjourned date of his trial.
“Nnamdi Kanu is our leader, there is no way we will remain quiet while he is facing trial unjustly. How many of the Boko Haram leaders have they arrested and tried?”
The protest ,which started at about 7am went on till about 5pm as members of the group were seen on the streets of Aba still protesting.
Residents have however lamented their loss since the protest started. They said continuing the protest in December, a period regarded as the peak of economic activities would not be in the interest of business owners.
They urged President Muhammadu Buhari and authorities concerned to seek ways of ending the agitations.
In Onitsha, the commercial city of Anambra State and its environs of Obosi and Nkpor, the protesters held sway in a non-violent procession.
Vehicular movements were grounded by the intimidating number of the IPOB members and their sympathizers, who marched from the Niger Bridge Head to the former Ogbunike Toll Gate to register their anger against the continued detention of Mr. Kanu.
The blocking of the Niger Bridge disrupted vehicular movements for over seven hours before normalcy was restored on the bridge.
The attempt by the military to disperse them failed because of their number and their resort to non-violence. The military however showed professionalism that had never been witnessed in Onitsha, under similar situation as they carefully implored the agitators to free the road for other users.
Onitsha-Owerri Road was also blocked by IPOB protesters, who made entry in and out of Onitsha difficult for all road users.
The crowd was so intimidating that some businesses and markets located along the road including Bridge Head Market, Onitsha Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers Market, Ochanja Market, all in Onitsha; New Auto Spare Parts Market and New Tyre Market Nkpor; Building Materials Market Ogidi and Bakery Market, also in Ogidi equally closed shops as a result of the protest.
When journalists sought to know why they closed their shops, some said they did it in solidarity, while others said they were afraid of being invaded by the protesters.
The protesting IPOB members were peaceful contrary to allegations that the traders were forced to close their shops or their shops invaded to loot their goods.
One of their leaders and spokesman of IPOB, Mr. Emma Powerful, who spoke to newsmen said: “We decided to avoid coming close to markets, especially Onitsha Main Market, because of the false allegation by some leaders of the traders, who have been paid to destroy our image with allegations of looting and destroying the traders’ goods.
“We are not protesting against our brothers and sisters who are doing their genuine business of trading and other businesses. So, there is no reason to attack anybody or invade their shops, neither are we begging anybody to come and join in the protest.
“People whose lives and businesses have been destroyed by government policies join us without invitation, while others join in solidarity. Allegation of infiltration into our fold is also false, baseless and figments of the imagination of those making it. We are only protesting to secure the release of our leader,” he said
In his chat with newsmen, National Coordinator of IPOB, Mr. Chidiebere Onwudiwe, who was flanked by Mr. Powerful, said that the protest was a result of the detention of Mr. Kanu and marginalization of the South East, adding that the protest will continue on Wednesday.
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