IPOB: Commercial activities partially paralyzed in Port Harcourt

In compliance with the sit-at-home directive of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, to mark the creation of the defunct Republic of Biafra and to honour the victims of the 1967-1970 civil war, by some business owners, commercial activities were partially paralysed in Port Harcourt, capital city of Rivers state and some of its environs.

Although no violent incident was recorded in the state as at press time, all the shops at the Ikoku Spare Parts Market, one of the highest commercial centres in Port Harcourt, were locked up. Also heavily affected by the IPOB order were shops at the Mechanic Village at Elekahia, where some customers were seen looking frustrated as they were shut out.

Many shops were locked in Rumuola, Rumuokuta, and other parts of the capital city. Trading activities known to be of high intensity at the Toll Gate in the Oyigbo axis, Eleme, Oil Mill, Artillery, Market, Rumuoji Market, Mile 3 Market, and the Building Material Market were low. Many shops along Ada George Road were also locked. Business activities in Choba and Ugwuoba axis of Port Harcourt were also not high.

One of the customers who simply gave his name as Mr. Nze, told the Daily Times: “I’m frustrated. I really need to buy some car parts to fix my car for an early morning journey tomorrow. It is an emergency and I can’t even go to Aba. That place must be a no-go area today.”

However, in the city of Port Harcourt, some shop owners who cashed in on the heavy presence of security operatives in the state were seen enjoying high sales, taking advantage of their colleagues absence, those of them who were either not courageous enough to open their commercial centres or simply complied with the IPOB order.

There was also light traffic along the major roads in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor in the morning and afternoon hours which gradually picked up in the evening.