Imo traders defy IPOB’s sit-at-home, open stores

Traders in Owerri, the Imo State capital, yesterday shunned the weekly Monday sit-at-home as they opened their stores for business.

Though banks, schools and major commercial centres remained closed, as of noon businesses were going on unhindered along Nekede, Ihiagwa, Douglas and Wetheral roads.

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Buying and selling were also going on at the Relief and Eke Onunwa markets when our correspondent visited the areas.

One of the traders who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity said he opened his stores “to test the waters.”

“We can’t continue like this. We have to start from somewhere and someone has to take the initiative. We can’t be sitting at home forever, if not, we will all die of hunger.”

The proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had declared every Monday as sit-at-home in the whole of South East region in solidarity with their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who is facing charges including treasonable felony and terrorism in an Abuja high court.

The sit-at-home order also applies every day Kanu makes a court appearance.