EBONYI State Governor and Chairman South-East Governors’ Forum, David Umahi, said on Monday that fear was responsible for the obedience of the sit-at-home order earlier issued by the outlawed IPOB, even when the directive had been suspended.

This was as a truck fully loaded with motorcycle spare parts worth millions of naira was on Monday, reportedly set ablaze by hoodlums who were allegedly enforcing the every Monday sit-at-home order declared by the Indigenous People of Biafra.

Umahi, who spoke with State House correspondents on Monday after meeting with the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, warned that if the situation did not change, the economy of the South-East would be threatened.

Umahi said, “It is a question of fear. You know, the easiest thing to do is to carry a weapon and kill somebody, and that’s what happened in the past. And that’s why some people in the South-East are afraid of coming out. So it’s not a question of compliance. It’s a question of fear.

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“You’ll find out that no South-East man wants to miss a day of work. They like to work; they are into trade, commerce, and they want to earn their daily living.”

Lorry load of auto parts set ablaze in Enugu

In Enugu State, though the sit-at-home order had been suspended, a lorry conveying motorcycle spare parts was torched by a group of unidentified persons suspected to have sympathy for the outlawed IPOB’s course.

It was gathered that the incident which happened around 6 am at Eluagu Obukpa, Nsukka LGA of Enugu State scared residents as those who wanted to come out for their businesses were forced to indoors.

Sources told our correspondent that the hoodlums were masked.

Meanwhile, in Imo State, banks, supermarkets, markets, schools and even eateries failed to open for business, even as large number of civil servants stayed away from work, while those who came left before the closing hour.

UGAMATV however, observed that there was a large turnout of traders at the Nkwo Orji market while only customers came to the place.

Shops, banks, others opened in Anambra

There was a contrast in Awka, the Anambra State capital, as business activities moved on seamlessly

People moved about their businesses as offices and some commercial establishments were opened without molestation.