A group of armed hoodlums, claiming to be enforcing the sit-at-home order declared by the Biafra Republic Government, invaded a primary school in Enugu West senatorial district of Enugu State on Thursday, and flogged the pupils and teachers who were taking their First School Leaving Certificate examination.
A video of the attack, which went viral on social media, showed the terrified and traumatised pupils and teachers lying down on the floor, while the hoodlums whipped them with sticks and belts.
The hoodlums also interrogated them on why they disobeyed the sit-at-home directive, which they said was a rule of the government of Biafra.
The pupils and teachers pleaded with the hoodlums, saying that they came to school to take their examination, which was a statewide exercise. They also promised that they would never violate the sit-at-home order again.
One of the hoodlums, who recorded the video, said: “This is happening live in one of the primary schools in Enugu West senatorial district in the state. I want everybody to obey the rules of Biafra.
“If they flog you today, you people will know that you don’t need to come out any day we have sit-at-home. You should not ever violate again the rules of government of Biafra.
“Any day they ask you to come out on the day of sit-at-home, tell them you won’t go to school because they have sit-at-home. That’s why we supposed to give you a little punishment.”
The sit-at-home order was issued by Simon Ekpa, the self-acclaimed leader of the Biafra Republic Government, an outlawed group that is agitating for the secession of the South-East region from Nigeria. Ekpa had declared a one-week sit-at-home protest in the region from Monday, July 3 to July 8, 2023.
The order has caused panic and confusion in many parts of the region, as residents fear attacks by unknown gunmen who claim to be enforcing it. On Wednesday, there was commotion in Enugu city as schools and markets were abruptly shut down after rumours spread that gunmen were shooting in some areas.
Sit-At-Home: Gunmen Enforcing One-Week Order Attack Enugu Primary School, Flog Pupils, Teachers | Sahara Reporters https://t.co/xuEQ8MJDWs pic.twitter.com/wD7x29s4CE
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) July 6, 2023
The Enugu State government has condemned the attack on the school and vowed to track down and prosecute the scaremongers who spread fake news that caused the pandemonium.
The Secretary to the State Government, Professor Chidiebere Onyia, said in a statement that security agencies were already working to identify and arrest the perpetrators of the attack and the peddlers and instigators of the fake news.
He urged residents to remain calm and go about their lawful activities without fear or intimidation. He also assured them that the state government was committed to protecting their lives and properties.
He appealed to parents and guardians to send their children and wards back to school, as adequate security measures had been put in place to ensure their safety. He also advised them to disregard any sit-at-home order that is not backed by law or authorised by the state government.
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