Nigeria Streets Deserted in Owerri as IPOB’s Biafra Day Order Takes Effect

Residents of Owerri, the Imo State capital, stayed indoors on May 30 in compliance with the sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), issued to honour Biafra Remembrance Day. The city witnessed a near-total shutdown across key areas.

• Areas including Douglas, Wethedral, IMSU Junction, and Government House Road were completely deserted.
• Shops, markets, schools, and transport services were shut.
• The sit-in went ahead despite a heavy security presence across the city.
• The State Police Command urged residents to disregard the order and warned against attempts to enforce it.
• No violence was reported as of the time of this report, and the streets remained calm but empty.

The widespread compliance highlights both the enduring influence of IPOB in the southeast and the public’s cautious response to safety concerns. The contrast between police reassurances and citizen behavior underscores a trust gap in conflict-sensitive zones.

As the southeast continues to observe Biafra Day in silence, the scenes from Imo echo a deeper tension between security authority and regional memory, one that plays out year after year.