- Two killed, property destroyed as unknown gunmen attack market in Enugu
Indigenes and residents of South East States have been thrown into palpable fear following the insistence of the Indigenous People of Biafra to hold the May 30 sit-at-home exercise across the zone in commemoration of “Biafra Heroes Day.”
Checks by The Point across the Igbo land on Wednesday revealed that there is tension in the zone as troupes patrol some strategic areas in the five states.
Armoured patrol vehicles were seen stationed in some hot spots while some volatile areas were heavily secured by armed military personnel.
Notwithstanding the security presence, some unknown gunmen attacked Ibagwa-Nkwo market at Igbo Eze South Local Government Area of Enugu State, killed two traders and destroyed property.
The onslaught happened around 1:00pm on Wednesday as the gun-wielding men set vehicles in the area ablaze and shot without restraint.
The sad development has further plunged residents of the state into panic as speculation was rife that the attack was to put fear in people and force them to comply with the sit-at-home.
Already, parents and their wards who are participating in the ongoing Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination have expressed worry over the possibility of the sit-at-home scuttling their examination.
Candidates are expected to write Mathematics paper on Thursday even as the examination continues till June 7.
The pro-Biafran group, in a statement signed by its spokesman, Emma Powerful, had maintained that today’s sit-at-home remains sacrosanct across the South East and that every resident in the zone should stay at home
The IPOB had earlier directed the West African Examination Council and the authorities of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka to shift their respective engagements earlier scheduled for the day, while declaring the day as a day to celebrate its fallen heroes during the civil war between 1967 and 1970.
Bowing to IPOB’s pressure, the management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, shifted its 18th convocation date.
The ceremony billed to be held on May 30 and 31, 2024 was readjusted to hold only on May 31 to pave way for students and staff to obey the sit-at-home.
However, WAEC authority is yet to react to the situation as candidates in the zone remain in the dark.
Powerful said the remembrance of all those who fought for Biafra freedom and sovereignty remains imperative, and no government or security agency has any authority to harass any innocent person during the event.
He stated that all social activities in Biafra land are banned.
He added that markets, schools, banks, government, and private businesses are not allowed to open, adding that the entire South East would be on lockdown from 6am to 6pm on that day.
The statement read, “The global family IPOB wishes to remind every person resident in Biafra territory that 30th May 2024 sit-at-home in commemoration of Biafra Heroes Day is sacrosanct and we oblige everyone to abide by this order, it is only one day, only Thursday, May 30, 2024 no other day.
“As long as Biafra Land is concerned, IPOB remains a very important state actor on the issues concerning Biafra. The remembrance of all those who fought for Biafra’s freedom and sovereignty remains imperative, and no government or security agency has any authority to harass any innocent person during that event.
“We are urging all state governors in Biafra Land to ensure the safety of persons and properties on that day. The students for WAEC on that day must put on their school uniform to identify themselves as WAEC candidates. We are not involved in criminal activities going on and we cannot stop our children from taking their exams.
“The Federal Government must understand that they cannot slaughter our heroes and, at the same time, stop us from mourning or remembering them. Those who died in the defence of our land from the extermination agenda of the Nigerian and British governments during the genocidal war of 1967–1970 are worthy to be remembered and celebrated.
The group stated that all Biafran heroes and heroines must be remembered, including Bruce Mayrock from the USA, who sacrificed his youthful age for Biafrans
“We remember and honour General Phillip Efiong, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Air raid Achuzie, Dr Frank Opigo, General Umunnakwe, Thomas Aguiyi Ironsi, Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu, and many others who contributed immensely for us to live.
“Biafrans in the diaspora are advised to go and obtain permits to rally in their respective countries. We must tell the world the story of the Biafran genocidal war and the resilience of Biafran heroes. Our people must understand that Biafra is coming. We have crossed the Rubicon, and nothing will make us change our mind or diminish our resolve towards this fight for Biafra liberation,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, some governors in the South East have rejected the directive of the indigenous group.
Governor Peter Mbah-led Enugu State government condemned what he described as an attempt to scuttle the SSCE in the state on May 30.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, Aka Eze Aka, Mbah said the consequences of candidates of the state and the entire South East region not sitting for their General Mathematics papers were massive and held nothing but “gloom for the future, contrary to what their forebears fought for.”
He, however, urged candidates and those involved in the conduct of the examination and other enterprises to go about their legitimate businesses, as the state had taken steps to ensure adequate security of lives and property.
The statement partly read, “The Enugu State Government notes with deep concern the statement credited to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) directing the West African Examination Council (WAEC) to postpone the General Mathematics (Theory and Objectives) examinations scheduled for Thursday, May 30, 2024, which the IPOB had designated ‘Biafra Heroes Day.’
“We note with particular concern IPOB’s statement that ‘WAEC board should not endanger the lives of small children because that day is not safe for any individual in Biafra territory.
“This is unacceptable to us, not only because of the well-known position of the Enugu State Government on illegal sit-at-home orders, which have dealt a great blow on the socio-economic life and fortunes of the South East region, but also because of the far-reaching consequences of a whole generation of Enugu children failing to sit for a fundamental subject such as Mathematics in one year.
“Let no one make a mistake about it, Ndigbo excel on the wings of industry, education and human capital development. Therefore, any pronouncement or action that tends to deny our children their rights to education, which is their ticket to the future, is offensive to our sensibilities and surely the sensibilities of our founding fathers and fallen heroes, who must be turning in their graves, wondering what could have happened to us as a people. Moreso, when many of the architects of such an unjust and evil agenda live in the comfort of civilised societies where they go to work and their children go to school every workday.
“The Enugu State Government recognises the sacrifices of our gallant forebears, who gave their all, including their lives, to defend the Igbo land. But we also recognise that they died so that we may not just have life, but to have the best of it, which can only come from developing our human capital to be able to excel in all that we do as individuals and collectively as a people.
“The government will not sit by and watch the future of our children aborted by such ill-conceived pronouncement intended to keep them at home. WAEC, as the name implies, is a regional body organising SSCE, not just in Nigeria, but also across West Africa. The sub region will certainly not wait for us.
“The Enugu State Government, therefore, enjoins candidates sitting for the ongoing SSCE in Enugu State to feel free to go to their respective centres to sit for their papers on Thursday, May 30, 2024, without any fears, while the officials involved in the conduct of the examination should also go about their legitimate duties without apprehension.
“As underscored at the beginning of this administration, no one has the right to impose any illegal and involuntary restriction of movement or business activities on anybody within the territory of Enugu State. Such will be met with the full weight of the law.
“Consequently, the government has put the security agencies on red alert to ensure security of lives and property and also deal, according to the laws of the land, with anyone or group bent on scuttling the SSCE scheduled for May 30, 2024 or causing a breach of peace and security of any type.”
Meanwhile, in a circular entitled “Clarification on Attendance to Duty on Thursday 30th May, 2024” issued on Tuesday, the state’s Head of Service, Ken Ugwu, warned civil servants and political appointees that failure to report to work would attract severe sanctions.
Ugwu in the circular dated Tuesday, May 28, 2024, maintained that there would be no public holiday on May 30, 2024.
He said, “It has become expedient to clarify that the State Government has not declared Thursday, 30th May, 2024 as a public holiday or sit-at-home day contrary to misconceptions from some quarters.
“May I, therefore, remind our workers that failure to be in their duty posts on the above date will attract summary dismissal from Service in line with the enabling provisions of the Public Service Rules.
“It must be noted that such purported public holiday/sit-at-home will have far-reaching consequences on the academic pursuit of our children, who are taking part in the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations held simultaneously across the nation, including the South Eastern region.
“Enugu State Government strongly frowns at any calculated attempt to mortgage the future of our children and has, therefore, put in place necessary security arrangements to guarantee the safety and unrestricted movement of all citizens and residents within the State.
“All Permanent Secretaries, Directors of Administration, Heads of Departments, and agencies of Government are directed to take a roll call of all those who came to work and return the same to the Office of the Head of Service before 11 am on Thursday, 30th May, 2024.
“To be forewarned is to be forearmed.”
But, some residents of the states said going out on Thursday would be tantamount to risking their lives.
Some of them who spoke with The Point in their separate interviews, expressed fear and said they would be indoors today.
A resident of Aba in Abia State, simply identified as Mercy, said, “This is not the first sit-at-home in Igbo land and it will certainly not be the last. People have been killed in the past for going against the IPOB directive and we cannot risk our lives this time around.
“Yes, it is through security agents, especially military officers who have been parading everywhere, but that will not make people come out. There is tension everywhere and the best is for us to stay indoors.”
Speaking in similar tone, a resident of Enugu, capital of Enugu State, Obumneme Nwankwo said the town has been soaked in tension following the government’s directive for people to disregard IPOB, adding that it would be difficult for people to move about.
“I won’t be coming out and I can confirm to you that the majority, if not all residents, will stay indoors. Already, there have been attacks by unknown gunmen and I am sure those who are enforcing the sit-at-home are behind it in order to scare people into staying indoors,” she said.
