Pupils and students in some schools in Onitsha and neighboring communities, Anambra State were on Tuesday chased out of their classrooms by hoodlums who claimed they were enforcing “Biafra Day” in the State.
The miscreants were said to have also invaded markets and public places to chase traders and workers away.
There were fears among residents whether to go out for their daily businesses following rumours of shift of Biafra Day celebrated every May 30 which was yesterday’s usual Monday sit-at-home.
While some resolved to stay indoors for fear of being attacked, some of those who stepped out returned home.
Those who spoke to The Nation at one of the markets said the hoodlums who stormed the market as early as 8.45am, insisted they should close their shops and go home.
They said today must be observed as sit-at-home to mark the annual Biafra Day because yesterday was the normal Monday sit-at-home day and not Biafra Day,” a trader who spoke on condition of anonymity said.
But Media and Publicity Secretary of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Emma Powerful refuted the rumour, saying the group had not declared any sit-at-home in the Southeast.
“There’s no sit-at-home at all in the entire Southeast. Please disregard such information,” he said.r5
The Nation however learnt there were heavy shootings between security agencies and gunmen in the Idemili area of the state.
The police spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, was yet to confirm the incident as at press time.
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