In a bid to resolve to get the detained Radio Biafra boss Nnamdi Kanu released and to actualze their agitation for the sovereign state of Biafra, no fewer than 40,000 members and sympathizers of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, yesterday, shut down commercial and business activities in the South East states as they took to the streets to vent their spleen.
This was even as hundreds of agitators thronged the court located at Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, yesterday, to show solidarity to Kanu who has been in detention for the past two months.
The detained pro-Biafra leader was supposed to be produced in court yesterday, in Abuja but the trial was stalled over the death of the Chief Magistrate’s father.
In Onitsha, the commercial city of Anambra State and its environs of Obosi and Nkpor, the protesters held sway in a non-violent procession.
Vehicular movements were grounded by the intimidating number of the IPOB members and their sympathizers, who marched from the Niger Bridge Head to the former Ogbunike Toll Gate to register their anger against the continued detention of Mr. Kanu.
The blocking of the Niger Bridge disrupted vehicular movements for over seven hours before normalcy was restored on the bridge.
The attempt by the military to disperse them failed because of their number and their resort to non-violence. The military however showed professionalism that had never been witnessed in Onitsha, under similar situation as they carefully implored the agitators to free the road for other users.
Onitsha-Owerri Road was also blocked by IPOB protesters, who made entry in and out of Onitsha difficult for all road users.
The crowd was so intimidating that some businesses and markets located along the road including Bridge Head Market, Onitsha Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers Market, Ochanja Market, all in Onitsha; New Auto Spare Parts Market and New Tyre Market Nkpor; Building Materials Market Ogidi and Bakery Market, also in Ogidi equally closed shops as a result of the protest.
When Vanguard sought to know why they closed their shops, some said they did it in solidarity, while others said they were afraid of being invaded by the protesters.
The protesting IPOB members were peaceful contrary to allegations that the traders were forced to close their shops or their shops invaded to loot their goods.
One of their leaders and spokesman of IPOB, Mr. Emma Powerful, who spoke to newsmen said: “We decided to avoid coming close to markets, especially Onitsha Main Market, because of the false allegation by some leaders of the traders, who have been paid to destroy our image with allegations of looting and destroying the traders’ goods.
“We are not protesting against our brothers and sisters who are doing their genuine business of trading and other businesses. So, there is no reason to attack anybody or invade their shops, neither are we begging anybody to come and join in the protest.
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