Tension in Anambra as Schools Send Pupils Home over Sit-at-home

Tension in Anambra as Schools Send Pupils Home over Sit-at-home

Residents of Anambra State are in confusion over the sit-at-home order by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as parents have started withdrawing their wards from school.

Markets in the state are also in confusion as to whether to comply with the directive or not, as their leaders have remained mum on whether the order should be adhered to or not.

THISDAY learnt that most schools have already issued notes to parents asking them to keep their children at home as a result of the IPOB order.

This is not withstanding the order by state police command to residents to ignore the sit-at-home order and go about their lawful duties.

THISDAY also learnt that most private schools in the state capital city of Awka had warned parents not to bring their children to school as their schools would not be open because of the order.

When THISDAY visited some schools in Akwa, it was learnt that parents who went to pick up their wards today from schools, were handed notes of a school-free day tomorrow.

The headmaster of a public school in Anambra who spoke to THISDAY on condition of anonymity said his school decided to stop its pupil from coming to school because the wellbeing of its pupil was paramount.

Meanwhile, the state police command has warned members of the IPOB to desist from any act that would cause a breach of peace in the state tomorrow.

The IPOB had in a release last week notified of the restriction of movement in Anambra and other South-east and South-south states deemed to be within Biafra territory.

The police warned that any act that breaches peace in the state would be handled decisively by it.

In a statement signed by the command's Public Relations Officer, ASP Nkeiruka Nwode, the police called on residents of the state to ignore the order and go about their lawful duties.

"The command is using this medium to warn such elements to retrace their steps and desist from embarking on any act of criminality capable of causing breach of peace.

"We call on the people to go about their lawful duty as the police will ensure protection for all law-abiding people. Police are firmly and effectively on ground," Nwode stated.