Breaking News: Residents Desert Owerri Streets, Other Towns As President Buhari Visits, IPOB Sit-At-Home Persists

The Imo state capital, Owerri and its adjoining towns and villages are currently deserted in compliance to earlier sit-at-home directive purportedly issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) despite the presence of the visiting President, Muhammadu Buhari today.

Indications emerged that the Owerri metropolis is deserted as residents stayed indoors while markets, shops (including street stores and shops), banks and every socioeconomic and commercial and vehicular activities are all halted today, Tuesday.

This was contrary to what obtained yesterday, Monday usually observed as sit-at-home day as reports showed that people moved around and carried on with their businesses.

OPTIMUM TIMES learnt that the state government in fear of recieving negative reports on the visiting President, had selected few Journalists, tagged them according to specific locations they’re under strict instruction to cover. They are also not expected to move from one location to the other.

Further, the State Governor has cancelled the earlier invitation to initially planned meeting of the Imo state elders council with President Muhammadu Buhari and instead, opted to select few with another invitation directly sent to them, according to one of the Elders who ought to have been there.

As at the time of filling this report, surveillance helicopter was hovering the Owerri metropolis apparently to forestall any attack even though it could not instill confidence on the people to come out from their homes and carry out their day’s normal activities.