Streets deserted as Abia, Imo residents shun hunger protest

Residents of Umuahia and Owerri, the capitals of Abia and Imo states, opted out of the nationwide hunger protest scheduled for Thursday, August 1, continuing with their daily routines instead.

According to correspondents from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), both cities remained quiet and serene. In Umuahia, commercial banks, eateries, businesses, and government offices were closed, contributing to an unusually calm atmosphere. Major roads were deserted, with minimal traffic and only a few commercial tricycles offering limited services.

Prospective travellers at a private motor park on Umuwaya Road were left stranded. Mary, a traveler, expressed frustration: “I wanted to travel to Enugu this morning, but I got here and saw the park locked. No motor park is operating, but this journey is very important to me.”

Armed security personnel were deployed across the state to maintain order. In Aba, the state’s commercial hub, major markets such as Ariaria International Market and Cemetery Market were shut. Foodstuff markets like Ahia Nkwo and Afo Une had only a few petty traders. The roads saw minimal traffic, with police and military patrols maintaining surveillance.

In Owerri, recent gunmen attacks and early morning rain contributed to a subdued atmosphere. The police and other security agencies deployed operatives to key locations and patrol vans kept watch over the area.

Resident Ignatius Igwe noted that the rain and security concerns dampened interest in the protest. Uchenna Mkwocha, a provision store operator, chose not to protest: “It is true that things are hard and hunger has increased, but I do not believe protesting against the government will bring about the needed change. I prefer dialogue to protest.”

Mkwocha urged the Federal Government to lower fuel prices, arguing that grain palliatives would not solve the hunger issue. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Henry Okoye, stated that the state remained relatively calm, with security personnel patrolling and ready to protect any potential protesters. He mentioned that stakeholder meetings indicated that most groups would not participate in the protest.