Sit-at-home order: IPOB disperses students out of WAEC exams hall

By Ridwan AREMU

Students of Comprehensive Secondary School Nkume Njaba in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State were on Monday chased of the examination hall by suspected Indigenous Peoples of Nigeria (IPOB) operatives.

The students and staff were pursued by enforcers of the Sit-at-home order while they were about to write the West African Examination Council (WAEC) English Language Examination.

The Nation learnt a group of men came into the school around 8.30 to chase the students, staff and invigilators and burnt down all the motorcycles parked in the premises.

Narrating her experience, a student, who gave her name as Ngozi, said: “Unknown gunmen came into the hall to ask us to stop our exams and chased us out. They also burnt bikes.”

Residents of Imo State on Monday made a volte-face and carried out their usual daily business activities.

While few vehicles were seen on the roads, some businesses, fast-food centres, artisans, street/road side traders, super markets and mobile food vendors operated freely better than last Monday when streets and roads were deserted.

Although businesses at the major markets were not at its peak, a reasonable percentage of buying and selling went on in virtually all the local government areas of the state just as Okada riders ferried passengers to their various destinations unhindered.

In Owerri, the state capital, Wetheral, Douglas, Tetlow, Onitsha, Port Harcourt, Okigwe, Mbaise, Aba and Orlu roads, vehicles were seen plying the roads even as intra and inter-city bus services were available for commuters.

However, some fear stricken sensitive institutions such as banks public and private schools, apprehensive of possible invasion by hoodlums and miscreants, remained closed for customers, students and pupils.

The hospitality industry heaved a sigh of relief with guests seen trooping into hotels

A resident and a businessman, Nick Iwuoha advised the security agencies to show more capacity of protecting the people during the enforced order.

“If our security agencies have shown the slightest sign that they are capable of protecting the people, many citizens will defy these sit-at-home orders.

“It is becoming rampant and frivolous. I trust the Igbo man, just a matter of time, it will lose steam and public sympathy and the people will defy it. In the meantime, let the security agencies shown some capacity,” he said.