Sit-at-home: Customers stranded as Banks, Fuel Stations Shutdown In Abakaliki

From Nwogha Ndubuisi, Abakaliki

There is total shutdown of commercial Banks and some fuel stations in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state capital following the one week sit-at-home order of the factional leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB Maazi Simon Ekpa.

Recall that the factional leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB led by Maazi Simon Ekpa on viral video announced a one week sit-at-home order as a way to show solidarity in demand for an unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kalu. Our Correspondent who went round some parts of the Abakaliki town observed that commercial Banks around Ogoja Road,Water works and Afikpo roads are all shutdown with customers stranded at their gates.

Also, fuel stations were under lock and key as pump attendants who spoke to our Correspondent on the ground of anonymity stated that the decision was taken as a result of fear of the unknown gunmen who threatened to clampdown on any defaulter of the one week sit-at-home solidarity order of Mazi Simon Ekpa. Speaking with some of the stranded bank customers at Union bank, Mrs Peace Oruh lamented over the denial of access to the bank.

Oruh who confided on us that she came to withdraw money sent to her by the brother explained that she's stranded and can't go back home due to lack of money. A Corps member, who identified himself as Mr Chris narrated his ordeal and stated that he was in the bank since Tuesday afternoon to withdraw money that he would use to travel, but was denied entrance to the bank with rumor of fear of invasion by gunmen. He blamed the banking institution for negligence and lousy attitude towards customers, and added that since Tuesday morning when the rumor broke out, officials of Access bank did not care to address their teeming stranded customers at the gate.

Another customer, Mr Chinedu Nwafor explained that he was at the bank to rectify issue affecting his account only to be denied entrance to the bank due to information that suspected unknown gunmen threatened to attack public institution that opened for business in the town.

Narrating his experience, a septuagenarian, Mr Michael Oko who said he is in the bank to withdraw money that would be used to treat his eye problem and surprised to see that the bank is not working. He faulted action of the freedom fighters and emphasized that the modalities adopted where banks are forced to stop operation among attack on petty traders would not only affect already helpless Igbo people but as well their businesses. Oko appealed to the aggrieved group to shield their sword, hence, devise a better strategy that would not affect the people they claimed to be protecting. Meanwhile, Mr Kingsley Onu, a farmer, who condemned the factional group method of attacking the people called on State government to deploy necessary security personnel to nip in the bud. He added that if the group is not quickly tackled, it would metamorphose to terrorism group.