When the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) first declared every Monday a sit-at-home holiday in the South-east of Nigeria in August last year, Emmanuel Ndu did not take it seriously.
Mr Ndu, a businessman in Ogbete Main Market in Enugu State, thought residents of the area would ignore the order because they are predominantly business people.
“All of a sudden it started holding, even in December, which is usually our business season,” he said, shrugging his shoulders to express his surprise over the development.
Nnamdi Kanu’s trial
In August, it will be one year since IPOB introduced the order to put pressure on the Nigerian government to release its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who is standing trial before the Federal High Court, Abuja, for treason and terrorism.
IPOB initially declared the holiday for Mondays but later extended it to every day Mr Kanu appears in court. Since then, the South-east has become a ghost region with all…
