South-East Residents Cancel Sit-at-home As Police Kill ESN Member Attacking Imo Monarch’s Palace

According to Vanguard, economic and commercial activity in the South East were in full flow across the five states on Monday, as locals watched the Indigenous People of Biafra’s sit-at-home protests being called off.

This comes as the Imo State Police Command shot and killed a suspected member of the Eastern Security Network who was attempting to attack the palace of a traditional ruler.

People were seen going about their daily routines across the states, as most shops, companies, and markets were open for business.

Apart from banks and offices that were closed due to the Nigerian government’s declaration of a public holiday, buying and selling were open for business, and commercial cars were spotted moving around.

Even though wedding ceremonies, burials, and communal activities and festivals were observed, every state was a hive of activity. Normalcy has returned, as both vehicular and human mobility were unaffected.

Normal activity continued unabated in Enugu’s metropolis.

Airline companies also maintained regular flight schedules from the Akanu Ibiam International Airport.

The major markets were not open because they were still closed for the New Year’s celebrations, as directed by their authorities. People who came to make one or two purchases, particularly foodstuffs and other delicacies, were able to trade outside the closed markets.

The population in the city center, on the other hand, was sparse because many individuals who had traveled to the countryside for the New Year’s celebrations had yet to arrive.

Marriage ceremonies and community events were held in various sections of Anambra State yesterday, indicating that residents had forgotten about the Monday sit-at-home. The markets in Awka were open for business, as were most of the filling stations.

According to the Imo State Police Command, members of the ESN were injured while attempting to attack the palace of Eze Emmanuel Okeke, Chairman of the Imo State Traditional Rulers Council.  Micheal Abattam, the state Police Public Relations Officer, told reporters in Owerri about it.

Other hoodlums who sustained gunshot injuries jumped into the forest, according to the police. The incident occurred around 1pm in the Amaifeke community in the Orlu local government area.

On how the police got to know about the planned attack, he said, “Sequel to the recent attacks on the palaces of some traditional rulers in the state by some unknown gunmen, the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Rabiu Hussaini, in his bid to curb this menace deployed the command’s tactical teams to patrol every community in the state while closely monitoring the palaces of traditional rulers.

“Today, the 3rd of January, 2022 at about 0100hrs, the strategy paid off as the Command’s tactical teams working in synergy with vigilante groups of the area were able to repel the attack/attempt to set the palace of Eze Imo; HRH Eze Dr E. C. Okeke on fire by men suspected to be members of the proscribed IPOB/ESN groups at Ezioha Amaifeke in Orlu LGA of Owerri, lmo State.

“The hoodlums, in their numbers, besieged the palace of the traditional ruler armed with assorted weapons but were subdued by the superior fire-power of the Command’s tactical teams and in the process, one of the hoodlums was neutralised while others fled into the bush with bullet injuries.”