South-East cities shut down as residents show solidarity with #FreeNnamdiKanu protest

There was total lockdown in Umuahia, the capital of Abia State on Monday as residents abandoned their daily businesses over the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest being championed by human rights activist Omoleye Sowore.

Major streets in Enugu were also deserted on Monday as many residents opted to stay off the streets.

While government offices were open, activities were minimal, with only a handful of workers present.

Commercial banks, schools, shops, and malls remained closed. There was no movement of commercial vehicles within the Enugu metropolis.

In the same vein the commercial city of Onitsha and the industrial town of Nnewi in Anambra State were also shut down as residents complied with the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest taking place in Abuja.

Although Mondays have long been observed as sit-at-home days in the South-East due to earlier directives by pro-Biafra groups, today’s total lockdown was notably different.

Residents were said to have voluntarily stayed off the roads in solidarity with the ongoing protest for the release of the detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

Although no physical protests took place as musi the the Spit-East towns due to the heavy presence of soldiers and military vehicles, residents chose to remain indoors.

Unlike previous Mondays when limited movements were seen despite the unofficial sit-at-home, there was a total absence of human and vehicular activity. The major highways — Onitsha-Enugu, Onitsha-Asaba (Niger Bridge), and Onitsha-Owerri — were deserted, including the usually busy streets within the towns.

Banks, schools, hospitals, and government offices were closed, while roadside shops and markets also remained locked. Even youths, who are typically seen playing football and other games on the streets during sit-at-home days, were nowhere in sight.