Markets in various parts of Aba, the commercial nerve city of Abia State on Saturday witnessed huge numbers of shoppers as they make last-minute purchases of perishable and non-perishable items 48hrs ahead of the May 31st Sit-At-Home Biafra Day celebration.
Our correspondent who went round various places in Aba including Ariaria International Market, Power Line, Bakassi Shoe Plaza, Ahia Ohuru, Shopping Center and Cemetery markets respectively reports that a lot of residents and visitors were seen making their last shopping preparatory to the sit-at-home call by the IPOB.
At Milverton off Asa road and Hospital road by Mosque, many persons, especially those who are travelling to other parts of the country that were in Aba to buy either footwears or clothing materials were seen inspecting their goods as they were being loaded in various luxurious buses.
Unlike other Saturdays in Aba, the roads were busy with passengers and vehicles coming in and leaving Aba in droves.
Transport fares at the time of filing the report have not been affected by the surge, but some of the shoppers including Mr. and Mrs. Essien who told our correspondent that they came to Aba from Ghana after attending a function in Enugu State complained of a hike in the price of goods and commodities.
According to Mr. and Mrs. Essien, they had to cut short their stay in Enugu to enable them to come to Aba to shop as Monday is expected to be observed as a sit-at-home.
The couple who recalled being trapped sometime in the east as a result of the sit-at-home exercise stated that they would be boarding a bus to Lagos tonight in order not to be caught in the web of the sit-at-home order.
A trader, Mr. Vincent Chiemela stated that the traders are selling their goods with caution as they would not predict what will be the outcome of the Monday sit-at-home order, but denied a hike in prices of goods and other essential commodities.
According to Chiemela, whatever price of goods in the market is determined by the suppliers of such goods.
Meanwhile, the Abia State Police Command has enjoined residents and visitors to the state to disregard the IPOB, MASSOB or any other Pro-Biafra group sit-at-home order.
This was contained in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna, on Saturday on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Janet Agbede urged Abians to go about their lawful duties and businesses without any fear of intimidation or molestation.
Ogbonna who assured the residents of the safety of their lives and properties during and after Monday, May 31st stated that the police in conjunction with other sister agencies were working round the clock to ensure that Abia is safe.
He enjoined parents to warn their children against involving in violence and any other anti-social activities, stressing that the police and other security agencies would ensure that Abia remains peaceful and conducive for business and economic activities to thrive.
