IPOB Sit-at-home: 1 Shot Dead In Nnewi, As Residents Fully Comply

One person was shot dead yesterday in Nnewi, Anambra State commercial-cum-industrial hub during the sit-at-home ordered by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to commemorate the 51 years of the struggle for an independent state of Biafra, and to mourn those who lost their lives in the civil war. Meanwhile, except in Awka, the Anambra State’s capital where the IPOB order recorded partial compliance by the residents apparently because of the threat by the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano to the civil servants, that any worker who failed to report to duty would be sanctioned, the sit-at-home order was fully complied to by residents in the entire state. For instance, in the major cities, including Awka, Nnewi, Onitsha and Ekwulobia, all commercial banks, markets, private schools, commercial buses and motorcycle operators abandoned their businesses. Many youths rather turned most streets, especially in the cities into football pitch. This was particularly the situation in Onitsha, where the ever- busy Old and New market roads, Modebe street, etc were turned to football pitch. Except motorists who moved out of the state as early as 6am, there was virtually no vehicular movement in most parts of the state as most people stayed indoors. LEADERSHIP, however, learnt that a young man identified as an IPOB member was shot dead in front of St. Mary’s Anglican Church in Uru-Agu area of Nnewi at about 8am by a trigger-happy security operative who was a member of the combined security team on patrol to ensure that no member of the public going about his or her lawful duty was not molested on account of the IPOB order. An eyewitness narrated that the security operative simply pulled his gun and shot the young man following a little altercation that ensued between the security team and a few IPOB members at the St. Mary Anglican Church. Immediately the young man was shot, the security team was said to have zoomed off, and he later bled to death. When contacted, spokesman of the Anambra State police command, Mr. Haruna Mohamned said he was not aware of the incident, but, said that he was still trying to find out if it actually happened.