Residents of Onitsha, the commercial hub of the state and environs have also resorted to panic buying in the last one week so as not to be caught unaware of any eventuality.
The situation have forced hike in price of food items and other consumables in the area, even as traders are planning to obey the same sit-at-home order by shutting down markets for one day on Monday next week.
The area is also tensed as people prepare for the possible fallout of the order, while persons who visited the state were leaving in droves back to their destinations to stay with love ones not domicile in the state.
While some schools were shut down for mid-term break till Tuesday next week, others gave their students or pupils one week or indefinite order.
It was gathered that the schools asked the pupils and students to stay at home for the period to avoid any casualty.
For instance, text messages to parents and guardians whose children or wards are boarding students in most of the secondary schools requested them to pick up their children or wards by today (Friday).
The parents without enough notice were asked to keep their children at home till June 1 or indefinite and wait for further notice.
Mr C Don Adinuba,Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment said he was aware of the sudden school closure in the state by their various authority.
“I am hearing it for the first time from you. I will full detail from the education ministry before I can comment on it,” he said.
Prof. Kate Omenugha, Commissioner for Education said the ministry was not aware of sudden schools vacation.
“I don’t know why they should do that, I am not even aware of it. If they do that, they are on their own.
“They did not have official directive from the ministry to do so. Our school time table is clear, if you have a copy of it,” she said.
It would be recalled that IPOB had said human and vehicular movement would be restricted across the South-East on Monday (May 31) to mark the anniversary of the Biafra 54 years.
As a result, it said all markets, parks, schools, airports and others would be shut down.
The group’s Director of Media and Publicity, Emma Powerful, stated this in a statement on Thursday.
The statement read in part, “We, the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra, ably led by the prophet of our time, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wish to announce once again that this year’s annual Biafra Remembrance Day and candlelight procession will take place on Sunday night, 30th of May, while a sit-at-home and total lockdown takes place on Monday, 31st of May, 2021, and not May 30 as earlier announced.
“The adjustment is to enable churches to hold their normal services on Sunday, May 30, without any obstruction. But there will be no human or vehicular movement throughout Biafra land on Monday May 31.
“Every person in Biafra land is therefore, advised to observe a sit-at-home order on Monday, May 31, 2021. That day is a sacred day in Biafra land in honour of the over five million Biafrans massacred by the wicked Nigeria forces during the civil war.
“There will be a total lockdown all through Biafra land on that day as we remember all our fallen heroes and heroines, including agitators, who have paid the supreme price in the course of our struggle for independence since 1967 till date.
“All markets, filling stations, motor parks, airports, seaports, banks, schools, etc as well as social activities in Biafra land are to be shut down on that day. Everyone is to remain indoors in Biafra land from 6am to 6pm on that day. People are to stock their houses with food items before that day so they won’t have need to shop on that day.”
Similarly, the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) declared Sunday, May 30, 2021, a special day of prayers for Biafra restoration.
It said that this year’s Biafra Day celebration would be unique and special because it fell on a Sunday.
A statement by National Leader of MASSOB, Uchenna Madu, directed all churches in Biafra land to observe special prayers and supplication for the repose of the souls of fallen Biafra heroes, including those killed by Nigerian security agents, Boko Haram and herdsmen. #####
 |
ReplyReply allForward
|
