A tense calm enveloped Owerri, the Imo State capital, on Monday as security agencies intensified patrols and mounted roadblocks across the city amid protests calling for the release of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Although no major demonstration was observed within the metropolis, economic and social activities were largely paralyzed. Schools, shops, markets, and government offices stayed closed, while only a few vehicles moved through the usually busy streets.
Residents were seen standing in clusters outside their homes, monitoring developments and discussing the unfolding situation.
The Imo State Police Command, in a statement signed by its spokesperson DSP Henry Okoye, said a joint security “Show of Force” operation was ongoing in collaboration with the military, DSS, NSCDC, and FRSC, aimed at deterring unrest and reassuring residents of their safety.
According to the statement, the operation seeks to “boost public confidence, maintain peace, and warn individuals or groups against any action that could disrupt the existing calm in the state.”
Commissioner of Police Aboki Danjuma reiterated the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, emphasizing that while the police respect citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly, “any act capable of disturbing public order will be met with firm and lawful resistance.”
The Command urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements via its emergency hotlines: 08034773600 and 08148024755.
As of press time, the situation in Owerri remained under control, though the heavy security presence reflected heightened caution amid ongoing pro-Biafra demonstrations across the Southeast.
