Secondary school students writing the ongoing West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) in the five South East sates of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo, yesterday, defied the sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to shun yesterday’s exams in observance of the Biafra Heroes Day celebration.

Earlier, IPOB had issued a statement warning the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the organisers of the WASSCE; and the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, Anambra State, to shift their exams from May 30, the Biafra Heroes Day, to a later date, threatening to disrupt the exams if the directive was not obeyed,

However, while NAU obeyed the directive by postponing all the exams it had earlier slated for May 30, WAEC remained adamant and went ahead with the exams.

According to reports from across the five South East states, while other activities were grounded, students went for the exams, although they disguised in mufti to avoid clashing with the IPOB members, who went round to ensure strict compliance with the directive.

•Anambra State

In Awka, the Anambra State capital, and its environs, students disguised and sat for the mathematics examination
Recall that students were seen wearing plain clothes as they made their ways to their various schools to sit for mathematics exams out of fear of attacks by gunmen.

Although the Anambra State Police Command had waved the threat of mayhem for defaulters of the IPOB order, residents of Awka were still in fear as shops at major markets, including Eke Awka, under lock and key.

Most students, especially candidates sitting for the examination at Igwebuike Grammar School Awka and St John’s School, Amemyi, Awka, were seen as early as 7.45am wearing plain clothes, apparently to disguise as they entered into their schools for the examination.

Some of them were seen carrying empty gallons, pretending to be going to fetch water only to make swift entry into the school. Some girls were also seen carrying buckets on their head as if they were going to fetch water and they entered into their schools where they changed into their school uniforms.
The entrance gates of Igwebuike Grammar School was locked with only one little entrance opened for students to come in.

A gateman at the school, who pleaded anonymity said students who came from far places where the sit-at-home order was strictly obeyed were mostly the students who wore mufti clothes to the school.

“They are afraid; some of them are coming from far places and that is why you see them wearing mufti, so when they come inside the school, they’ll change into the school uniform.

“Some of these girls you see carrying buckets on their heads are all candidates sitting for the exams. That buckets on their heads contain their school uniforms, so when they get to their school, they will change into their uniforms. They did this to disguise because of fear.”

However, a parent who brought her son on motorcycle to Igwebuike Grammar School in Awka, Mrs. Ngozi Madichie, expressed sadness over the situation, adding that the situation would affect the students’ performance in the subject.

She expressed fears that the psychological effect of the order would affect the performance of the students in the subject.

“These children are already agitated, some of them may even miss this subject because of fear, and those who eventually made it to the hall, will be psychologically down and it will surely affect their results,” she said.
A teacher at the school who did not want his name in print said the whole issue would definitely affect the results of the students in the entire South East.

“It is terrible and my fear is that it is mathematics that they are taking today. Of all the subjects, it is today that these children are sitting for mathematics that this rubbish is coming up. Mathematics is not a subject you can toy with, it requires total concentration and calm, but see as these children have been jolted and see the fears in their eyes, it will surely lead to mass failure in mathematics across the region,” he submitted.

Meanwhile, the Anambra State Police Command said it has taken cognisance of the activities of criminal elements disseminating, threatening voice-overs and violent videos in an attempt to enforce illegal sit-at-home directives and instil fear in the residents of Anambra State.

The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Tochukwu Ikenga said it was imperative to inform the public that actionable intelligence indicated that individuals enforcing the order fabricated threatening voice-over recordings and circulated outdated videos of violent incidents, some of which did not occur within the state or even the country.

“The Command is fully aware of these secessionist’s activities and urge the law-abiding citizens of Anambra to disregard such propaganda. Rest assured, the Police, along with other security agencies, have mobilised law enforcement resources to ensure the safety and security of every citizen in the state.

“As a recent example, on May 29, 2024, at approximately 2pm, police operatives laid an ambush on miscreants along Oba Flyover in Idemili South. This led to the interception of a gang of four armed men operating on motorbikes. During the encounter, one miscreant was apprehended, while the other three managed to escape, sustaining bullet injuries in the process. The operatives recovered a locally made Barreta pistol, four expended cartridges, two phones, and incriminating evidence indicative of unpatriotic and disloyal behaviour towards the Nigerian government.

“In light of these developments, the Commissioner of Police, Nnaghe Obono Itam, assures the people of Anambra State that their safety remains the utmost priority of the Police Command.”

•Imo State

Although the sit-at-home was a huge success in Imo as residents complied with the directives, the students wrote their WASSCE despite the threat by the pro-Biafra group.

Most of the schools as reported by our correspondent witnessed low-key examination as the schools’ gates were locked, while the students wrote their examinations quietly.

However, most of the major roads as well as markets and filling stations were empty. Some streets were converted to football pitch, despite the heavy presence of the Joint Task Force moving in convoys.

Our correspondent who visited City School in Owerri, the state capital, located along the Whetheral Road, observed that students were writing their exams without any disruption. It was also observed that the students were not wearing their uniforms apparently to avoid falling victims of any kind of attack.

Meanwhile, the Owerri metropolis was more of a ghost city as there was virtually no vehicular traffic. All the major roads were deserted. As residents complied with the IPOB directives to observe the memorial of the fallen heroes of Biafra.

Major markets in the state capital of Owerri were all shut down, including commercial banks .

•Ebonyi State

In Ebonyi State, the sit-at-home recorded total compliance as commercial banks, markets, shops, filling stations, government offices and schools were all shut.

Streets and roads in the state were deserted as there was no human and vehicular movements.

However, WASSCE candidates were in their various schools writing general Mathematics.

Our correspondent visited Nnodo Secondary, Presco High School, and Urban Model Secondary School, Abakaliki, and saw the candidates writing the exams.

Principal of Presco High School, Mrs. Bridget Obasi, told our Correspondent that the exams started at exactly 9:30am without any problem.

“Yes, our general Mathematics is going on peacefully as you can see. We started at 9:30am,” she said.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state cancelled its five-man delegate Congress and councillorship primaries slated for yesterday.

This was contained in a statement signed by the state chairman of the party, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha.

Emegha claimed that the reason for the cancelation was to enable the screening committee to screen the aspirants and the delegates in the interest of justice and fair Play.

“This is to inform members of the All Progressives Congress, Ebonyi State chapter, and indeed, the public that the five-man delegates congress and councillorship primary elections of the party slated for Thursday, May 30, 2024, have been postponed.

“The reason for the postponement is that the leader of the party, the Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, in his wisdom, directed that sufficient time be given to the aspirants to enable the screening committee screen them accordingly in the interest of justice and fair-play.

“Consequently, the five-man delegates congress and councillorship primary elections of the party will now hold on Friday, 31st May, 2024 in the 13LGAs across the state by 8.00am”, he stated.

•Enugu State
In Enugu State, students also defied the IPOB order to take part in the mathematics exams that was held yesterday.

The students who were seen taking the exams in some schools said they left their homes as early as 5am to get to their schools. Most of them were seen on mufti.

Both public and private schools in the state participated actively in the Mathematics examinations, though under close watch by security operatives.

At Spring of Life Secondary School, a security guard who pleaded not to be named said that most of the students had arrived on Wednesday night and had passed the night in the school.

“The students were here yesterday. Our proprietor directed them to come and arrangements for where they would sleep was concluded last week.

“So most of them were here yesterday. A few came in this morning. I was happy with the plan. Even the parents were happy. The students are already taking their exams.”

At Annunciation Secondary, Nkwo Nike, and Umuchigbo Secondary School, the students were seen writing their exams under close supervision of neighboruhood watch operatives.

Also, students of Modern Comprehensive Collage, Holy Rosary College, and Nike Grammar School, among other secondary schools in the state participated in the examinations under a peaceful atmosphere.

Despite security presence in the town, banks, markets, and filling stations, were shut, indicating an almost total compliance with the sit-at-home order in the state.

Residents were seen trekking for long distances due to unavailability of public transport.

Military and Police vehicles were seen patrolling various parts of the town but the streets remained deserted, while some youths were seen playing football.

The state, however, remained peaceful as there was no incident of attack by any armed group.

Also in Nsukka area of the state the mathematics exams took place smoothly in the various secondary schools within the university town.

Our correspondent monitored some public and private secondary schools in Nsukka and reported that candidates took mathematics subject 1&2 exams without any report of threat or harassment at the exam centres.

At about 10:00 am when our reporter visited Urban Girls’ Secondary School, Nsukka, students were already writing their mathematics paper 1 exam.

Mr. Agboede Theresa told our reporter that the examination started smoothly with all the registered candidates in attendance.

“So far so good, everything is calm here, the external invigilator arrived at the school at exactly 9:00 a.m. and the examination started at 9:30 a.m. after proper screening of the candidates.

“I am happy that both the students, external and internal invigilators arrived at the school safely and the exam took off smoothly without hitches,” she said.

Also, at the Hill View Unique Secondary School Nsukka, a private school, Sir Gabriel Ogwuche, the Principal told our reporter that the IPOB Heroes Day commemoration did not prevent the examination from taking place in the school.

According to him, “our external invigilator arrived here with exam material as early as 8:55am, and the mathematics examination started at exactly 9:30 am,” he said.

At St Catherine Secondary School Nsukka, a missionary school, a gateman at the entrance of the school who was acting on directives of the school authority refused our reporter access to the school.

However, he confirmed that the examination was going smoothly at the school.

Also, at Model Secondary School, Nsukka, one of the internal invigilators, who pleaded anonymity told our reporter that the exams took place at the school.

“Students are currently in the examination hall writing the exams and all the registered candidates are in attendance, so the IPOB sit-at-home order did not in any way affect the exam.”

Meanwhile, the university town of Nsukka and its environs remained a ghost town as markets, banks, business centres, among others were brought to a halt by the residents in compliance with the IPOB sit-at-home in commemoration of the Biafran Heroes Day.