Kanu’s court case: Aba streets, markets deserted despite sit-at-home cancellation

From Ogbonnaya Ndukwe, Aba

There was a lull in business and commercial activities in the city of Aba, as traders, top business offices and public institutions, were locked with their owners staying away, in observation of  Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu’s, case that was heard in an Umuahia court, yesterday.

   The stay away leading to a desertion of the town’s usually busy streets and markets, were in place despite repeated calls by IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, and Kanu, through his lead counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, that the exercise had been cancelled and that people were free to go about their normal businesses, without being harassed or molested.

   However, it was gathered that while some individuals, including market traders, schools and a few transporters were seen carrying out their work, others, especially the big wigs, were in their respective homes with their families, believing miscreants may hijack the situation to attack them as had been the case in the past.

Zebulon Igwe, a transport operator, said he and some of his colleagues at the Aba main motor park, stayed away again, today despite observing the normal Monday sit-at-home’ yesterday, with the public holiday declared by the Federal Government, in commemoration of Nigeria’s 62nd independence anniversary celebrations.