Despite South-East leaders’ declaration, ghost Monday persists in Enugu

By IGBONAKA CHUKWU, Enugu

The two-month-long weekly sit-at-home protest, better known as, “Ghost Monday”, ordered by the pro-Biafra independence group, the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), has entered its 13th edition in Enugu State, as indeed in other parts of the South-East.

This is coming after the South-East leaders’ declaration after their security meeting in Enugu that the exercise had been stopped.

The protest is not an entirely urban affair, but also permeates and affects the rural areas.

Sources at one of the foodstuff markets in the state that holds today, which is an Orie day, disclosed that the market did not hold as both sellers and buyers could not access the market centre.

The police checkpoint at Atavu River, on the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway, is bereft of the usual 3-kilometre long queue occasioned by the police duty posts as duty policemen were seen dozing away in their patrol vans, due to zero traffic.

The abattoirs were empty and may pose serious problems to consumers especially those celebrating the Muslim feast tomorrow.

All major markets, shops, supermarkets, restaurants, and other public centres were shut.

Streets had no vehicular movements, while public and private motor parks, as well as loading bays and taxi ranks, were also not on business.

POS operators in the inner streets were making swift businesses as banks and other financial institutions were not open for business.

Similarly, black market operators were hitting it high as filling stations were all shut.

Heavy truckers and owners and operators of articulated vehicles like Dangote were as well counting their losses while the protests lasted.

A security convoy of Enugu Forest Guards, vigilante teams and policemen were observed patrolling the streets with over seven cars and vans.

No reports of any security breach in the metropolis or of any enforcement by IPOB operatives was reported as we had the reported case of torching of a tricycle last Monday in Enugu. (Nigerian Tribune)