Monday Sit-at-Home Persists in South-East Despite Improved Security

Monday Sit-at-Home Persists in South-East Despite Improved Security

Despite reports of improved security in the South-East, many commercial cities across the region continue to observe the unofficial Monday sit-at-home, with business activity remaining low and several institutions staying shut.

Checks across Aba, Onitsha, Nnewi, Okigwe, and other commercial hubs show that most traders still lock their shops on Mondays, while those who open do so from midday. Many banks and corporate offices remain closed, even as full activities have returned in state capitals like Enugu, Owerri, and Awka.

Residents told SEV that although the security situation has significantly improved, years of violence, attacks, and intimidation have left deep scars.

In Imo State, communities recently freed from violent gangs are still transitioning to normal life. While the illegal sit-at-home in Owerri has largely faded, the Court of Appeal, Owerri Division, remains firmly shut every Monday.

READ ALSO:

• Dangote partners Honeywell to double refinery capacity to 1.4m bpd by 2028
• Buba Galadima retracts harsh criticism of Jonathan, slams current security failures
• FG denies nationwide ban on open grazing, reaffirms gradual shift to ranching

A court source revealed that the closure is tied to a traumatic incident: the kidnapping of a Justice’s driver four years ago. The victim remains missing, and the vehicle has never been recovered.

The source said: “From what happened to us, our decision is justifiable. Life is precious and inalienable. The family of the kidnapped driver is still suffering.”

Residents in Orlu and Orsu, areas once known as the epicenter of attacks, say caution remains necessary. A prominent indigene said the communities are “being precautionary,” predicting the tension will fade naturally.

In Okigwe, many locals remain fearful. Mr. Chidiebere Ike Nwokike told SEV that the horror of past violence continues to shape people’s choices.

“We are very careful. The times are bad. We watch every Monday before stepping out,” he said. He added that bloodshed in Okigwe, Ihube, and surrounding communities led to mass displacement, weakened commerce, and the withdrawal of prominent natives from their ancestral homes.

“One basic fact is that no sane person engages an armed, brainwashed or drugged criminal. If staying home on Monday keeps me alive, why not? There’s no guarantee business will boom anyway,” he concluded.

Authorities continue to urge residents to return to normalcy, but fear, trauma, and uncertainty keep the Monday lockdown alive in many parts of the South-East.

Monday Sit-at-Home Persists in South-East Despite Improved Security