Barr Chijioke Edeoga, the Labour Party’s candidate for governor in the 2023 general elections, urged security forces on Thursday to use restraint while implementing the state government’s decision to lift the sit-at-home ban.
The Indigenous People of Biafra organized a sit-at-home protest in the former Eastern Region in 2021 to demand the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, their leader. Kanu is being held in the custody of the State Services on suspicion of leading a banned organization, eluding justice and treason.
As the merchants at Ogbete Main Market protested the shutting of their shops by the state government because they failed to open for business on Monday, July 24, 2023, Edeoga reacted to the claimed death of at least one trader there.
Before this week’s Monday, the state government had issued an order requiring companies to operate. It also said that any corporate entities disobeyed the order would have their shops sealed and their licenses revoked. Most Ogbete Main Market vendors should have considered the directive, which closed 107 stores and two banks. One of the shopkeepers was killed due to the protests on Wednesday morning.
“This is horrible, regrettable, and preventable,” tweeted Edeoga.
Since human life is precious, it must be respected. I urge the security organisations to interact with the demonstrators more politely.
