By Henry Emeana
Major markets ,roads and streets in Owerri,capital of Imo State, were deserted on Sunday as religious and economic activities almost came to a halt in the state capital.
Churches within the city such as Assumpta Cathedral Owerri , Winners Chapel, Port Harcourt road among others were all open for service but witnessed low turn out and could be best described as a shadow of their selves.
Motorists however kept away from major roads such as Douglas, Wethedral, Okigwe road, Tetlow road, Government House axis, while stores were under lock and key at Relief market, Egbeada market,popular Ekeukwu market, and Naze Timber market.
Commercial motorists also kept away in compliance with the Sit At Home order of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
Some residents of the city who spoke to our correspondent, said if the situation persists for more days, it will completely ground the fragile economy of the State.
Apart from halted vehicular movement witnessed in some major roads ,the prices of food stuffs in the state have continued to sower due to panic buying occasioned by the sit- at -home order with rice selling between N26,000 and N28,000.
A survey conducted by Eastern Voice in the major markets in the Owerri metropolis, Ekeukwu and Relief markets revealed that previously, a cup of rice which cost N90 and a paint bucket sold between N1800 and N2000 now sell for N120 and N2600 respectively.
Major business outlets in the State capital were also under lock and key.
There were reports of sporadic gunshots around MCC road, Egbu road, along Fire Service junction in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Mr Nnamdii Okoro, a mini bus rider said patronage has been low since the beginning of the week after unknown gunmen had carried out attacks at Orji area of the State on Tuesday last week.
Okoro expressed worries that if the situation persists, it will adversely affect the economy of the State. Since Friday, the usual amount of money I make riding my bus has drastically reduced. And this is affecting me and my family” he said.
A palm oil dealer, Emeka Mejuru who spoke to our correspondent at Ekeukwu Owerri market said a bottle of red oil which cost N300 now sells N650 and N600, while a twenty litre of red oil earlier sold between N7,000 and 8,000 skyrocketed to12,000 and 13,500.
He regretted that Imo State should have been an exporter of red oil if the palm plantation in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, was given full attention, a situation, he also said would have crashed down the price as palm oil producing state.
He said as of two months ago, a cup of garri which was as low as N50 now goes for N80 while a half paint of garri went up from N300 to N700 and N800. A cup of beans which earlier cost N80 increased between N100 and N120 and a measure now sells for N2000 as against N1600 .
Meanwhile, a basket of tomatoes, as of two months ago said to have cost between N9,000 and N12,000, however, increased to between 13,000 and 15,000 due to the panic buying , But a tin of tomato which cost N50 went up to N150. A tomato seller, Blessing Amadi said:
“The tomato that come from the north is not enough for us here. May be by December this year, a tin of tomato will cost N200 since we are not producing the tomato in the southeast and the government has closed the borders for importation. ”
