Enugu Gov’t Vows To Sanction Schools Obeying Sit-At-Home

The government of Enugu State, Tuesday, said it would sanction schools and businesses that abided by the ongoing two-day sit-at-home in Igboland.

THE WHISTLER reported that the two-day sit-at-home was declared by a pro-Biafra group to launch its armoured vehicles. The order, reports our correspondent, was 70 per cent complied with.

The killing of scores of Nibo natives in Anambra State during the community’s Onwa Asaa festival triggered fear that informed the obeying of the order in most Enugu communities.

The state had earlier banned sit-at-home, which was enforced by the Indigenous People of Biafra for the release of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who is accused of terrorism. Kanu, through his special counsel, Barr Alor Ejimakor, earlier denounced sit-at-home, stating that it is against the ingenuity of his Igbo natives.

The sanction by the state government was announced by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Chidiebere Onyia, during a briefing to announce the state government’s position on the order.

Onyia said the sanction also applied to markets, businesses, and institutions that observed today’s sit-at-home.

He said, “Enugu is open for business and Enugu is fully engaged in assuring that private sector actors feel very comfortable coming into Enugu. So, we will not tolerate non-state actors trying to act in defiance of our clear approach to growing our economy.

“What is also important is that under this governor and government, there has been no incident on any Monday from the day the governor cancelled the illegal sit-at-home.

“Because we heard the rumours of an illegal sit-at-home directive by non-state actors, the security forces and the state government decided to move around the state to ensure that people feel safe.”

Onyia assured that the government would ensure more security presence to reassure the people of its commitment to ending the illegal order.

THE WHISTLER reports that the state was dead on both Monday and Tuesday following the order. The paper hitherto reported that the killing of scores of people at Nibo in Anambra State by unknown gunmen on Sunday enabled the compliance of the sit-at-home order in most South-East states.