The Enugu State government on Monday, October 21, 2024, said it will sanction schools and businesses obeying the two-day sit-at-home declared by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Chidiebere Onyia, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), said this at a joint press conference addressed by the government and security chiefs after a tour of schools, businesses, financial institutions, and markets in Enugu.
The security chiefs include Garrison Commander, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Steven Dogo; the State Director of the Department of State Services, Theresa Egbunu, the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, Anayo Uzuegbu.
The factional Leader of IPOB, Simeon Ekpa, had declared Monday and Tuesday, October 21, and 22, 2024, as sit-at-home in the entire South East.
However, Mr Onyia said sanctions would be meted out to schools that fail to open on the said dates.
His words, “This also applies to markets, businesses, financial institutions and the rest of them. We insist on zero compliance to an illegal directive,” Mr Onyia said.
He commended people of the state for resisting the sit-at-home warning by people they described as “enemies of progress”, saying they had shown that Enugu had since gone beyond that stage.
“Enugu is open for business and Enugu is fully engaged in assuring that private sector actors feel very comfortable coming into Enugu. So, we will not tolerate non-state actors trying to act in defiance of our clear approach to growing our economy.
“What is also important is that under this governor and government, there has been no incident on any Monday from the day the governor cancelled the illegal sit-at-home.
“Because we heard the rumours of an illegal sit-at-home directive by non-state actors, the security forces and the state government decided to move around the state to ensure that people feel safe,” he said.
The SSG disclosed that they went through different locations such as schools, markets, financial institutions, our civil service offices and were satisfied with the turnout of the people.
Mr Onyia assured that the government would ensure more security presence if only to reassure the people, stressing, however, that the government would visit sanctions on schools, markets, and institutions that defy the ban on sit-at-home.
Speaking on behalf of other security chiefs, Mr Uzuegbu maintained that sit-at-home remained an aberration in Enugu State and reiterated the determination of the security agencies and the government to deal ruthlessly with troublemakers.
“So, on behalf of my colleagues, I want to assure the good people of Enugu that their security is guaranteed. Any action of a person or persons to jeopardise the peace of the state will be ruthlessly dealt with.
“The consequences are going to be very harsh,” Mr Uzuegbu said.
