Residents of Enugu metropolis who trooped out on Monday to continue their normal businesses were left stranded as commercial bus drivers and tricycle operators withdrew their services in compliance with the lockdown order by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Southeast.
Traders, workers and students especially those who were supposed to write General Mathematics and Woodwork in the National Examination Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination as well as travellers were the most affected as there were no commercial vehicles to convey them to their various destinations.
Our correspondent, who monitored the situation on Monday in Enugu, observed though private vehicles especially those conveying their wards or spouses to schools and work respectively, were seen plying around, there were no commercial buses and cars on the streets, making passengers to wait endlessly at bus stops.
The Nation also reports from the popular Ogbete Market at Holy Ghost to Agbani Road to Gariki, Obiagu, New Layout, Abakpa, Emene, New Haven, a few Keke operators were seen conveying passengers at exhorbitant fares.
At Gariki main Park, The Nation learnt that hundreds of passengers were seen begging drivers to convey them to their destinations.
One of the stranded passengers told our correspondent she had been standing at Ogui Road, between 7.00am to 8.30 waiting for commercial vehicle to take her to her work place in New Haven to no avail.
“My office warned us not to miss work today for any reason. But, look at everyone here wants to go to their business places, but how do they do that without any vehicle conveying them?”, She said.
Another stranded passenger and NECO candidate, Chuka Makuachi said: “We have been standing here since morning waiting for vehicle to take us to school.
“Even to see a vehicle that will take me to Agbani Road so that I can trek the rest to the school is difficult. I don’t want to lose this year again because of this sit-at-home”.
The development, it was gathered, led to banks, markets and shopping malls, and some parks shutting down.
Gas and petrol filling stations were also shut down
No government or private school opened for academic activities except those writing the NECO examination.
At Enugu secretariat, only a few civil servants who could drive to work were seen within the premises discussing the situation in groups.
At Ogbete, Mayor and Gariki markets, some traders were seen lurking around but afraid to open their shops for fear of attacks.
Following the fears by traders, some policemen were seen going round the markets to urge the traders open their shops if they were interested.
THE NATION
