By Kenneth Onuoha
365Daily – Residents of Abakaliki metropolis, capital of Ebonyi State, on Monday stayed indoors as major banks, hospitals and state judiciary premises were deserted in compliance with the sit-at-home order issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Very few traders were seen at the International Market, without customers to patronise them, while majority of motor parks, including Peace Mass Transit, Enugu Mass Transit and many others were totally shutdown.
A trader, one Mr. Igwe Ugonna, who spoke to journalists, said he regretted going to the market, as since 8am, not a single customer entered his shop.
Ugonna, however, urged the leaders of South East to ensure that nothing happens to the leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, in DSS custody to avoid more troubles in the region.
It was gathered that most hospitals including the Federal Teaching hospital, Abakaliki, was were deserted by patients.
A staff who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “I went to work but I didn’t see majority of workers, even patients were not seen coming to the hospital.”
Meanwhile, shops in major streets of Abakaliki, especially the popular Oguja Road and Afikpo Road, eateries, motor parks, and filling stations were all deserted.
However, at the State Ministries at Centenary City, civil servants were seen in their different ministries as the Head of Service team went round to take attendance of workers present at work.
Some workers, who spoke to journalists, said that they had to go to work in order not to lose their jobs.
They, however, recounted the pains and stress they passed through to get to their ministries as getting bikes, keke (tricycles) was difficult.