Economic activities were on Monday stalled in the South-East states of Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi as residents of the observed #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protests declared by human rights activist Omoyele Sowore.

All major markets within Enugu metropolis and the state in general were shut.

Aria Market, Ogbete Main Market, Mayor Market, Kenyatta Market, Artisan Market and Coal Camp Spare Parts Markets – were shut down as of 11:00 a.m.

Public and private schools were also shut down, as no pupils were seen going to school while banks, malls, motor parks, shops and other public institutions were shut down for fear of the protest.

The roads within the metropolis were virtually empty, as there were no private vehicles moving, while there were few commercial vehicles seen moving without passengers on the roads.

Security was beefed up as police and military armoured vehicles were mounted at strategic locations in the state capital with surveillance helicopters flying over the state capital.

Speaking on the development, Ikechukwu Aniku, a shop owner in Coal Camp Spare Parts Market, said that some business owners closed their shops in solidarity with the protest.

Mr Aniku appealed to President Bola Tinubu to heed the protest to release Mr Kanu from detention.

Some parents said that they did not send their children to school for fear of being attacked by protesters, adding that many schools advised them to stay at home.

“They are safe staying home today; I cannot risk sending my kids to school because of the rumoured protest, as no one knows what will happen to them thereafter,” Nkemdilim Nwadialor said.

Reacting to the development, the police command in Enugu State said there was no security challenge in the state concerning the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest.

The command’s spokesman, Daniel Ndukwe, said in Enugu that the entire state had remained calm and peaceful.

According to Mr Ndukwe, there is no security challenge, and there is no protest in the state.

The spokesman said that the command was fully prepared to attend to any adverse situation and made strategic deployments to handle any adverse situation, if any.

They also observed that most areas in the metropolis remained peaceful, with a handful of people on the roads and most people remaining within their homes and neighbourhoods.

It was a similar situation in Ebonyi, as residents of the state did not engage in any physical protest; rather, they stayed at home in their areas.

Despite no record of protest in the state, many government offices, including courts, banks and markets, were also under lock and key.

There were low vehicular movements along the major roads in the state capital, Abakaliki.

Some residents said that they stayed at home in solidarity with the protest which began in the South-East four years ago.

John Nwangele, an Abakaliki businessman, said that it was no longer news in the South-East that people were staying at home, especially on Mondays.

“All we are asking for is that the government should free Nnamdi Kanu so we can have peace in Igbo land,” he said.

Joshua Ukandu, police public relations officer (PPRO) in the state, told reporters in Abakaliki that the closure of shops and markets by some individuals was due to “fear of the unknown”.

“Our men, in collaboration with other security agencies, have been patrolling the streets of Abakaliki and its environs. There are no records of protest in Ebonyi for Nnamdi Kanu’s freedom.

“I must tell you, the state is relatively calm and safe. There were no government or individual orders to close offices, shops or markets.

“The people that closed their offices did it because of fear,” the PPRO stated.

Also speaking, the state commander, Ebonyi Neighbourhood Watch Victor-Chibuoyi-Nwenyi, who described the protest as the “right of the citizens”, said the situation in the state had been calm and peaceful.

“Yes, it’s our duty to safeguard lives and property, and we have been up and doing in that regard.

“The protest in solidarity for Nnamdi Kanu’s freedom may happen in some other states, but such did not happen in Ebonyi,” he said.

On why there was no protest in Ebonyi, the commander said that there was no order for people not to go to the streets in the state.

“We did not tell people not to protest because everyone has the right to do so,” Mr Chibuoyi-Nwenyi added.

Anambra also witnessed a similar situation, as Onitsha markets and streets were deserted.

Meanwhile, Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra continued his campaign in Awka, the state capital, for the November 8 governorship election in the state. 

(NAN)