Commercial activities in Aba, Abia State, were on Monday, grounded following protests by pro-Biafra groups led by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

This is even as South East governors, leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and other stakeholders are to meet in Owerri, the Imo State capital, to find a lasting solution on the activities of the pro-Brafra groups in the area.

IPOB had at the weekend called on residents of the city to come out in protest against the continued detention of Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu on Monday.

All the markets in the city including Cemetery, Ariaria, Etche Road, Ekeoha Shopping Center and Ahia Ohuru were shut down by the IPOB members while police shot tear gas to disperse the crowd around the park area in Aba Town Hall.

The protesters moved from one market to another to enforce compliance with the Ariaria International market as take off point. They took over the city as early as 8am.

The protesters had weekend warned residents of Aba to stay indoors on Monday as the protest would continue.

Though Umuahia, the state capital, was peaceful, the demonstration in Aba was overwhelming as over 3 million IPOB members some of them dressed in the movement’s uniform including members from Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Rivers and Cross River states members marched from the popular Ariaria International market, through Faulks, Brass and Okigwe roads to the park.

They also blocked Port Harcourt Road, Eziukwu, Milverton, Asa, Azikiwe and Uratta. All the vehicles plying the routes were forced to park as they marched on foot. The protesters carried placards with the inscription, “Free Nnamdi Kanu;” “Give us freedom,” among others, and chanting solidarity songs like, “as from today, no more zoo,” “Ihenile zuroke n’ala Biafra, “No more zoo, no more zoo, no more zoo,” among others.

However at the time of filing the report, no death had been recorded as the protest was peaceful. The number of protesters appeared to have overwhelmed the security agencies as they were nowhere to be seen.

Reacting, the Abia State government described the news of the protest as rumour, just as it lauded Aba residents for resisting the call to partake in the protest.

In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Godwin Adindu, he said the state was calm and peaceful. He accused the opposition of masterminding the protest as a disguise for their plan to cause breach of the peace.

Meanwhile, worried by the activities of the pro-Brafra groups in the South East zone, Chairman of Governors Forum of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, on Monday, called for a meeting with governors for the zone, leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and other stakeholders to find a lasting solution on the activities of the pro-Brafra groups in the area.

Gov. Okorocha, who had earlier disassociated the governors and leaders of the zone of the growing protest of the pro-Brafra groups, described the activities of the separatists as embarrassing, disturbing, counter-productive and distractive.

According to him, the pro-Biafra protests could not be in the interest of the South-East people but were only sending wrong signals to the rest of Nigerians. He said that it has become increasingly necessary for the governors in the zone, Ohaneze leaders and other stakeholders in the area to meet, to call a spade, a spade.

It is also expected that at the end of the Owerri meeting, the governors and other leaders will take a common position and will also invite the leaders of the pro-Biafra groups for a meeting, to let them know the socio-economic and political implications of their activities including their demand for sovereignty in a united Nigeria.

He said the governors and leaders in the zone could no longer sit and watch the whole situation degenerate and also noted that the Igbos as a people cannot afford to have its own kind of Boko Haram.

He also wondered why the pro-Biafra apologists kept quiet all these years only to resume their violent protests and activities this time and few months after the new administration in the country came on board.

Okorocha had earlier met with the security chiefs in the state on how to ensure that the pro-Biafra protests across the South-East states at the moment won’t be experienced in Imo State.


http://dailytimes.com.ng/pro-biafra-protest-grounds-aba/



CC: Obinsoscopy, Lalasticlala

okorocha is a He goat

Naijapips02

I sight you.

Yeah, i watched the zombie parade. Umu york aba. Most of those guys protesting don't even know what the heck biafra is all about. Aba peeps too like follow follow.

meanwhile, a credible source just confirmed that Nnamdi kanu has just being raped by an uncircumcised nimrod wielding boko haram inmate.

EasternLion:
Naijapips02

I sight you.

umu Colombia na umu york. Nothing exciting.

naijapips02:
Yeah, i watched the zombie parade. Umu york aba. Most of those guys protesting don't even know what the heck biafra is all about. Aba peeps too like follow follow.

meanwhile, a credible just confirmed that Nnamdi kanu has just being raped by an uncircumcised nimrod wielding boko haram inmate.

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

call them Umu york Aba. but we were plenty, I was there, with my vuvuzela flute, I was like

piiiiiiii puu puuu piiiiimmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

and for your gayish comment, f*ck you

EasternLion:


hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

call them Umu york Aba. but we were plenty, I was there, with my vuvuzela flute, I was like

piiiiiiii puu puuu piiiiimmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

and for your gayish comment, f*ck you

yeah, you guys put up a good show. I enjoyed myself.

naijapips02:
Yeah, i watched the zombie parade. Umu york aba. Most of those guys protesting don't even know what the heck biafra is all about. Aba peeps too like follow follow.

meanwhile, a credible source just confirmed that Nnamdi kanu has just being raped by an uncircumcised nimrod wielding boko haram inmate.

You clowns that know what biafra is about, why didn't you protest?

Did Daily Times say 3m? Let the hear any one from South W.... Say they are a few thousand.


Buhari hmmmmm.

truefact:
You that know what biafra is about, why didn't you protest?

because we know it's a zombie fantasy and we are not zombies like you frauds.

For one thing am sure of is that, one day Biafra will stand. And rochas will be murdered like Gaddafi

naijapips02:
Yeah, i watched the zombie parade. Umu york aba. Most of those guys protesting don't even know what the heck biafra is all about. Aba peeps too like follow follow.

meanwhile, a credible source just confirmed that Nnamdi kanu has just being raped by an uncircumcised nimrod wielding boko haram inmate.

In your life time and mine we shall witch Biafra Independence march. Amen.

googlepikin:
For one thing am sure of is that, one day Biafra will stand. And rochas will be murdered like Gaddafi

If There's one thing I'm sure of, it's that biafra would never stand and Rochas would be the president of a united Nigeria.

What's the programme for today? When are they going to march on nairaland?

Keegan:
What's the programme for today? When are they going to march on nairaland?

very soon.

I am not Igbo and I am neither Hausa nor Yoruba and this issue isn't just about one tribe. More people are joining for various reasons. At this stage, I need to make a contribution. Parts of Port Harcourt especially Aba road is currently locked down due to the IPOD protests. Even the security forces have gotten tired of firing tear gas. The government of Nigeria needs to manage this situation with better tact and dexterity so that we do not have a full blown crisis on our hands. I don't see the government and security agencies being able to fight on multiple fronts. They have not defeated Boko Haram. Places like Taraba State are on the precipice. Forget all braggadocio, the Niger Delta is becoming more restive and criminality is escalating nationwide. The Fulani-farmers killings are resulting in more fatalities and some of the marauders have become even more murderous. Women and children are being raped. Bank robberies are on the uptick. Jobless, hungry and angry people are getting agitated. Civil servants got paid last week and many are still being owed. Whoever has access to those in power, should tell them something is about to give!