IPOB: Schools, Markets, Filling Stations Shut In Enugu For Kanu

Most public and private schools did not open for academic activities on Monday in Enugu in solidarity with the protest for the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

THE WHISTLER gathered that the management of the affected schools had informed parents and the students about the closure of schools on Monday.

Kanu has been detained at the custody of the Department of State Services since 2021 over alleged terrorism.

Oliver Aba’s son attends the University of Nigeria Secondary School, Enugu Campus. He said, “My son didn’t go to school today. We were told that there won’t be lessons today. Above all, we are home to show solidarity to Kanu; he is a hero.

“The federal government seems to be making efforts to continue to incarcerate him. We are watching. The more they detain him, the more sympathy Kanu will continue to get from reasonable people.”

A teacher at a private primary school in Nsukka, who identified herself as Gloria Oku, said the management of the school sent messages to the parents not to bring their children and wards to school Monday.

“The message was clear,” she said. “What is paramount is security. The protest is in Abuja, but no one knows the plans of the devil. Some people might want to use the opportunity to cause mayhem. Prevention is better. That is what we did. And many other schools did the same thing.”

James Ibeh is a phone accessory dealer in Enugu. He said the shops at the GSM market, beside the Fire Service bus stop, were shut to show solidarity. According to him, “For the fact that the leader of the protest is not even an Igbo man calls for our support. Omoyele Sowore is not Igbo, but he has seen the injustice being done to our brother Kanu. We need to sustain this protest. It will surely be peaceful, but it has sent a strong warning to the federal government and is agents of wickedness.

“President Tinubu inherited a burden of justice from former President Muhammadu Buhari, and he seems to be doing the same wrong. Or he may be looking for a political opportunity to release Kanu. We urge our governors who have joined APC to talk to the president to release our son. After all, Tinubu granted pardon to some clear convicts recently. Why keep being a freedom fighter.”

It was gathered that most transport companies, filling stations and banks did not open for business as a result of the protest.