One of the busiest commercial cities in West Africa, an onitasha used to have the most chaotic day of the week on Monday morning. But on the day of thesis, they appear in terrible silence.
Familiar spots of traders have declined – a unstable peace has been replaced as many residents of Southeast Nigeria live in fear.
Unlawful indigenous people of the Biafra movement-who are insisting on the freedom of south-east-nizo-niyam form of Nigeria to demand the release of their leader Namdi Kanu, south-east-nominated.
The Nigerian capital Abuja is on a canoe test on allegations of terrorism.
While the IPOB claimed that it had suspended the order to stay at home, the locals continued to comply with the fear of armed groups, using enforcement strategies such as looting, looting and targeted murders, using enforcement strategies, are known to attack those who abuse meas.
“Monday now looks so empty,” said Gift Chigo, a resident in Emo, said, which is one of the most difficult states in the region.
“Business closes and shops are closed. And to be honest, we do not necessarily sit at home because we support IPOB, but out of fear. It’s not about solidarity, it’s about it. [protecting] We ourselves. What can we do? Nothing, “he told DW.
Tales of an accused group
Formed by two Nigerians in UK, Namdi Kanu and Uche Meepr in 2012, the IPOB was at the forefront of a fresh call for independent state Biafra.
East Eastern region governor and military officer, Eameka Ozukavu, announced the defective kingdom of Biafra in the 1960s after the assassination of IGBO in Northern Nigeria. However, the attempt to separate from the country ended with a three -year civil war, due to which millions of people died.
The movement still remains with groups such as IPOB. In 2020, the IPOB launched its armed wing called Eastern Security Network for the purpose of protecting IGBOS, but the residents reported that DW had given more pain on them instead.
Since Kanu’s arrest, the group has divided into groups – some of which are violent, enhancing considerable impact and power, specificly in rural communities, and targeting government features.
Although the IPOB has repeatedly distinguished itself from the violence in the region, the authorities have continued to accuse a group of many violent incidents in the area. The Nigerian government has given the group a terrorist organization label.
Cost of a sit-at-house order
In addition to the Sit-at-Hom protest every Monday, the region, when Kanu appears in court, observes the order that day. And, it has not only provoked livelihood and has disrupted the economy of the region, but has also killed more than 700 people in the last four years.
A recent report by the Lagos-based think tank, SBM Intelligence suggests that this protest has resulted in economic loss of more than $ 4.79 billion (€ 4.20 billion) with major areas such as transport, trade and micro-businesses.
In around 332 violent incidents, the sub -station of protest has been the IMO state, where 332 people were killed, later closely by 202 deaths by neighbor Anambara. Many of the victims were citizens who defined the weekly order or got caught in clashes between the group and the Nigerian security forces.
Public institutions such as schools and hospitals have disrupted bees from protest.
King David, a teacher at Overi, said, “I go to class three times a week, even if I teach mathematics whether one day should be. We are seriously backward due to IPOB order.”
School is suffering, economy stall
Denifa Angalapu, a research analyst at the Center for Democracy and Development, a think tank, shared David’s concern. He said that the educational sector has taken the deepest brunt of SIT-in in this area.
“Students preparing for the exam often recall important educational days or even forced to travel in risky conditions,” Angalapu said. “Beyond this, the missing students in the school on every Monday mean that they have four days to learn, and I think it is actually a very important difference compared to other regions of the country.”
While in 2021 there was a high rate of compliance with the order, representing around 83%, the actual support is now very low – about 29%.
The south -east of Nigeria is mainly inhabited by the Igbo ethnic group which is known for its entrepreneurship skills. The influence of SIT-in is enough, and the disadvantages of thesis are not only vested in the southeast, the major Ikemesit Effiong said the major Ikemesit Effiong of the research in the Lagos-based think tank.
“People from Niger Delta and South South region who want to transit through South East to go to other parts of the country are very impressed because their goods cannot go to land through the area.”
Effiong mentioned that loss in productivity has weakened economic competition and discouraged external investments.
“Economic losses in terms of low investment climate are worrying. Many projects that have been greenlighted, actually started back or again in other parts of the country because the cost of trade has increased in the south,” said.
What is the way out?
Denfifa said that, beyond economic loss, deepening unemployment and poverty, what lies further is even more shocking.
“It is quite sad that a generation of youth is being brought up in an atmosphere of fear and ideological extremism in the south,” said Dangifa.
Denfifa said that “With the difference of trauma, we are at a very big risk if it continues because we have a whole generation that has been made radical and it is a very fundamental challenge.”
Dengiyefa suggested that the Nigerian government should invest in combating separatist tale including confusing local leaders.
“We require a non-monye security attendance discovery, which requires discovery in the form of community policing instead of only armed forces, which often increases stress” which will eventually lead a peaceful dialogue for any political demand.
Both analyzes argued that the huge canoeing prose would be softened through government transparency and fair judicial process.
“People cannot approve the strategy of Namdi Kanu within the region, but their message still has deep resonance. Many people lake as their treatment as their treatment as to how Zenia has treated South -East.
Edited by: Keith Walker
