Empty Streets and Shut Businesses as Sit-at-Home Compliance Persists Across Parts of Anambra State

Several parts of Anambra State witnessed unusually quiet scenes on Monday as residents largely stayed indoors in apparent compliance with the sit-at-home order associated with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), despite assurances by the state government that normal activities should resume. While some commercial activity returned to specific locations, particularly major markets, large sections of the state remained subdued, with deserted roads, shuttered businesses, and limited vehicular movement.

In Onitsha, the state’s commercial hub, traders at the Onitsha Main Market reopened their shops after a one-week closure enforced by the Anambra State Government. Governor Chukwuma Soludo had ordered the temporary shutdown of the market following traders’ continued observance of the Monday sit-at-home, which the state government has consistently declared illegal and economically damaging. The reopening followed directives from the government instructing traders to disregard the sit-at-home order and resume full commercial operations.

However, despite the market’s reopening, observations across the city painted a different picture. Major roads, including the Onitsha–Owerri Road, Upper Iweka axis, Onitsha–Awka–Enugu Road, and the Onitsha–Oba–Nnewi corridor, were largely deserted for most of the day. Motor parks, banks, fuel stations, schools, and many private businesses remained closed, contributing to an atmosphere more typical of a public holiday than a regular workday.

Similarly, areas surrounding Ochanja Market recorded minimal activity, with residents either remaining indoors or gathering in small groups at street corners and residential areas. This contrasted sharply with the usual weekday bustle for which Onitsha is known, underscoring the lingering impact of the sit-at-home order on daily life and economic activity in the state.

The Monday sit-at-home practice in Anambra and other parts of the South-East dates back to August 2021, when IPOB announced it as a protest measure following the arrest and continued detention of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Although IPOB later announced a suspension of the weekly sit-at-home, compliance has persisted in many communities, driven by a combination of fear, solidarity, and uncertainty.

In a statement attributed to IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, the group claimed what it described as “total and overwhelming compliance” with the sit-at-home directive across the region. The statement framed the widespread shutdown as a peaceful demonstration of unity and resolve among residents, asserting that it reflected deep loyalty to Kanu and resistance to what the group characterizes as injustice and intimidation.

According to the statement, communities across Anambra and the wider South-East voluntarily complied with the directive, sending what IPOB described as a clear message of collective will. The group maintained that its actions were orderly and non-violent, while reiterating its demand for the release of its leader.

The developments have continued to generate mixed reactions among residents and observers. While some argue that the sit-at-home reflects popular sentiment and civil resistance, others have raised concerns about its economic consequences. Business owners, transport operators, and daily wage earners have repeatedly complained about income losses, reduced productivity, and long-term damage to the state’s economy.

The Anambra State Government has maintained that the sit-at-home is neither sanctioned nor acceptable. Governor Soludo has previously emphasized that security challenges and economic stagnation cannot be addressed through coercion or shutdowns. The state has also warned against threats, intimidation, or enforcement of illegal directives by non-state actors, pledging to protect law-abiding citizens who wish to go about their normal activities.

Despite these assurances, the persistent low turnout on Mondays highlights the complexity of the situation. Analysts note that restoring full confidence among residents will require not only security measures but also sustained dialogue, trust-building, and broader political solutions.

As Anambra navigates the tension between public authority and popular compliance, the empty streets witnessed on Monday serve as a reminder of the unresolved issues shaping daily life in the South-East. For now, the state continues to grapple with balancing economic revival, public safety, and the deeply rooted sentiments driving the ongoing sit-at-home phenomenon.