Umuahia Grinds to a Halt as Inhabitants Mark Biafra Day with Widespread Stay-at-Home Protest

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By Steve Oko

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UMUAHIA — An unusual calm descended on Umuahia, the Abia State capital, on Saturday as residents largely stayed indoors in observance of Biafra Day, a remembrance event held in honour of those who lost their lives during the Nigerian Civil War.

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The usually busy city wore a deserted look, with major roads, markets and commercial centres recording minimal activity throughout the day.

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Most shops remained closed, while business and transport activities were significantly reduced across the capital city.

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From the city centre to the outskirts, traffic was sparse, with only a few vehicles and commercial tricycles seen on the roads.

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In some areas, youths took advantage of the empty streets to play football, turning sections of deserted roads into makeshift pitches.

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The normally busy Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway, which passes through Umuahia and serves as a major transportation route, also recorded light traffic for most of the day.

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Although a few residents were seen moving around, the city was far quieter than its usual weekend atmosphere.

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There were no reports of violence, disturbances or security breaches as of the time of filing this report. The situation remained peaceful, with residents complying with the sit-at-home observance.

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The exercise followed a call by the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), which urged people across the South-East to remain indoors and offer prayers in memory of those who died during the civil war.

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Similarly, the Igbo Women Assembly (IWA) used the occasion to call for justice for victims of the conflict and urged authorities to respect the rights of citizens to commemorate their dead.

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The level of compliance recorded in Umuahia reflected the continued historical and emotional significance the civil war period holds for many residents, more than five decades after the conflict ended.

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