By Chisom Oguadimma
Nsukka, a major city in Enugu State, experienced an eerie calm on Thursday morning as residents stayed indoors and businesses shut down, amid fears of potential protests.
Scant vehicular and pedestrian movement was observed on major roads, while banks, shops, and fueling stations remained closed.
At the popular ‘Total’ roundabout, limited economic activity was noted, with motorists and commercial drivers cautiously going about their business.
The heightened tension followed reports of security guards patrolling the area early in the morning, likely to prevent any unrest.
According to a motorcyclist who wished to remain anonymous, “Some security guards were seen parading the area early this morning.
They probably want to ensure a peaceful protest.” He added, “For now, there are no signs of protest or people converging for one. From this, you can deduce that people are not interested in the whole protest.”
A passerby remarked, “Nobody will ever come out for the protest because everyone is afraid of experiencing what happened during the EndSARS protest. Even if people come out, the government will still do what they want.”
The popular, now-defunct Ogige market was less busy than on normal days of operation. The few shops that were open operated cautiously.
A trader, Mrs. Joy, described the situation in the market as “calm.” She said the low-key activities were because people were scared to come out. “When I came out this morning, everywhere was calm. It was around 10 a.m. that people started coming for their normal activities.”
Another person, Orjinta Ferguson, expressed dissatisfaction with the federal government’s administration, saying, “The government has really dealt with us, but I hope after the protest, they do something about the hardship.”
As the day progressed, the city remained tense, with many hoping for a peaceful resolution to the underlying issues prompting the anticipated protests.
