Umuahia, the Abia State capital, on Monday, witnessed an unusual calm as commercial and social activities came to a complete standstill in solidarity with the ongoing #FreeNnamdiKanu protest championed by activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore.
From the early hours of the day, the usually bustling city was eerily quiet, with roads deserted except for a few tricycles and sporadic vehicular movements. Major commercial hubs, including shops, markets, banks, and petrol stations, remained under lock and key as residents observed what appeared to be a voluntary shutdown in support of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Checks by our correspondent revealed that schools across the city, both public and private, also joined in the shutdown. Many had earlier sent messages to parents and guardians over the weekend, advising them to keep their children at home due to security concerns surrounding the planned protest.
A convoy of joint security operatives was sighted patrolling major routes such as Uwakala Road, Post Office/Abia Tower Junction, FMC/Bank Road Junction, and Isigate market axis. The visible presence of security agencies, it was gathered, was aimed at forestalling any breach of peace or possible escalation of tension.
At the popular Isigate market, trading stalls and makeshift tables were covered, giving the area a ghost-town appearance. The absence of traders and buyers underscored the total nature of the lockdown that gripped the state capital.
A resident, who identified himself simply as Chukwudi, described the development as “a quiet show of solidarity,” noting that the people were tired of the prolonged detention of Kanu.
“This is our way of saying we have not forgotten him. Nobody forced anyone to stay at home — it’s just a collective decision,” he said.
