The Enugu state administration has threatened to close schools and markets that follow the illegal sit-at-home order.
According to a statement issued by Chidiebere Onyia, Secretary to the State Government, the state government received reports on Tuesday morning, July 4, that proprietors of private schools in the state are sending messages to their pupils and students advising them not to come to school from today due to the illegal one-week sit-at-home order allegedly declared by non-state actors in the state.
The statement read: ‘’The Enugu State Government is alarmed and dismayed by this development and hereby warns that any school that fails to open and function normally from today will have its license revoked immediately. The Enugu State Government also extends the same warning to market unions and shop owners in the state. All markets and shops in the various markets must be open to customers from today or be shut down indefinitely.
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“Government reiterates its ban on any form of illegal sit-at-home in all parts of the state, as it is evil and antithetical to all values we hold dear as a people, such as the Igbo spirit of industry, hardwork, creativity and productivity.
“The general public is urged to go about their normal daily activities as adequate security measures have been put in place to protect lives and property.
“Government will no longer sit by and watch faceless groups and misguided individuals issue illegal orders, dictating to us how to lead our lives, when to go to work or market and when our children go to school, while they ply their trade and their children go to school. This is no longer acceptable and must be confronted and defeated with every power and resources at our disposal.”
Onyia also stated that the State government will use the full force of the law, including the Cybercrime Act 2015, to go after and prosecute anyone, individuals, groups, and organizations intentionally encouraging the illegal sit-at-home order, instilling fear in residents, raising false alarm to disturb public peace, and so on, through fake news sharing and propagation of falsehood connected with the illegal sit-at-home order on social media platforms.