Northern Traders Close Shops In Umuahia After IPOB, Military Clash

Most shops used by northerners in the city centre of Umuahia were under lock and key yesterday.
Those of them who hawk their products on wheelbarrow where not cited on the major streets of Umuahia either. Even the highly populated Old Owerri Road where the mosque is located in Umuahia was deserted.

Daily Trust gathered that this was in fear of attack by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) who were seen in different tricycles and buses moving round major streets from Isi-gate axis to Ubakala in Umuahia South Local Government Area where a military checkpoint is located.

As of the time of this report, no solider was sighted at Ubakala checkpoint. IPOB members had towards the evening taken to the city centre chanting different songs, destroying lock up shops and forcing all other traders to flee, and at of the time of this report, the busy city centre had been deserted and night life in Umuahia paralyzed.

Military presence was felt in the day until about 6pm when most military posts became empty.

The Chairman of Traditional Rulers’ Council, Umuahia North Local Government Area, HRM Eze Philip Ajomuiwe, who spoke on the clash between IPOB members and the military Sunday, advised the Federal Government to rather engage Biafra agitators in dialogue instead of using brute force against them.