Sit-at-home: Stampede in Owerri over alleged IPOB enforcement order

Confusion erupted in Owerri the capital of Imo State, on Monday, over an alleged violation of sit-at-home order by IPOB.

The pandemonium which occurred around 10 a.m. took residents of the city unaware as it led to the hasty closure of markets, shops, schools, banks, hotels and other sensitive Institutions.

Expectedly vehicles, Okada riders and barrow pushers quickly disappeared from the roads and streets, just as roadside traders also took to their heels.

Vehicles with the inscription “Imo City Transport”, were not left out as they equally withdrew their services thereby imposing frustration and hardship on passengers who trekked long distances to get to their destinations.

Fear stricken parents and guardians were seen rushing to schools in the city to retrieve their children and wards despite heavy security put in place by the school management.

Two students of Emmanuel College Owerri anonymously told the Tribune that while some of their teachers jumped out of their class out of fear for their lives, others fled through the gate.

Our correspondent who monitored the situation reported the presence of soldiers and other security agents, well-positioned, on the roads.

As at the time of filing this report, apart from the IPOB alleged connection, there were allegations by some people against some overzealous officials of the state Environmental Transformation Commission, (ENTRACO).

According to this school of thought, the Commission had embarked on aggressive demolition of some structures on the Onitsha Road, World Bank, and Control Post which did not go down well with owners of such demolished structures.

The fracas that ensued resulted in a stampede that spread to other parts of the city thereby provoking confusion and tension.

Ignorantly it was misconstrued by the larger populace that it was the handwork of IPOB over disregard to usual Monday sit-at-home order.

The commissioner for Information and Strategy, Chief Declan Emelumba did not pick all the calls placed on his mobile phone for reaction, but the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Michael Abatham, blamed the stampede on “mere rumour and hallucination by those intent to course confusion in the state by crying wolf where there is none.”

He advised members of the public not to panic and to go about their normal businesses, assuring that adequate security had been put in place to secure lives and property.

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Sit-at-home: Stampede in Owerri over alleged IPOB enforcement order

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