IPOB Dares Soludo, Declares Sit-At-Home In All Southeast States

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has announced a sit-at-home scheduled for Monday, February 2, across the five South-East states of Anambra, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi and Imo.

Naija News reports that the group said the action is to support traders affected by the recent closure of the Onitsha Main Market in Anambra State.

The decision followed an order by the Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, who directed that the market be shut for one week.

The state government explained that the closure was due to the continued observance of sit-at-home in the area, which it said has been damaging economic activities since it began in July twenty twenty-one.

The governor had earlier warned residents and traders against obeying any further sit-at-home order, stating that it was hurting businesses and slowing down development in the state.

However, many traders in the Onitsha Main Market said their action was not forced.

They explained that they stayed at home out of support for the detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who is currently facing trial over issues linked to separatist agitation.

In a statement released on Friday, IPOB criticised the Anambra State Government, accusing it of acting against the interests of Igbo traders.

The group claimed that the market closure was unfair and targeted people who were only expressing solidarity.

IPOB announced a total shutdown of economic activities across the South-East and other areas it described as Biafran territories on the stated date.

According to the group, the planned sit-at-home is meant to resist what it sees as punishment against traders.

The organisation maintained that the weekly sit-at-home observed in the region was voluntary and not enforced by its members.

It described the closure of the market as an attack on people’s means of survival and warned that such actions could deepen tension in the region.

Residents of the South-East were urged to stay indoors on February 2 and avoid business activities.

The group also called on its supporters to remain calm and avoid violence during the period.

IPOB again demanded the release of Nnamdi Kanu and accused the Anambra State Government of increasing pressure on traders through economic actions.