SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF SIT-AT-HOME ORDER IN ANAMBRA STATES

ABSTRACT

The sit-at-home order of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the Southeast-Nigeria is rooted in the historical struggle towards restoring an independent state of Biafra in the old Eastern region of Nigeria. Biafra had previously existed as an independent multi-ethnic republic; encompassing majorly the Igbo; the Ijaw, Efik and the Ibibio people among few other ethnic groups which have now been balkanized into different states of the south-east and south-south geopolitical segmentations. The emergence of IPOB is a function of the continuing struggle to actualize the independence of Biafra earlier declared by Lieutenant Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu which triggered war that lasted for three (3) years (1967-1970). The war recorded an estimated 3.5 million deaths that were seriously civilian causalities due to hunger and starvations with damaging consequences on socio-political and economic activities in Nigeria. During the war, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and others tried to reconcile the combatants to no avail. Whereas most countries continued to recognize Gowon’s regime as the government of all Nigeria and the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union supplied with arms, the international sympathy for the plight of starving Biafran children brought airlifts of food and medicine from many countries which include Gabon, Cote de‟Ivoire, Tanzania and Zambia to the Biafran agitators and soldiers while France supplied them weapons. Eventually, the war ended on 15th January, 1970 when Odumegwu Ojukwu fled, and the Biafran Soldiers surrendered to the Nigerian Military.