The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has vowed to enforce its Sit-At-Home order despite warnings from the state governments in the Southeast.
IPOB had threatened to embark on a Sit-At-Home order across the Southeast region every Monday beginning from August 9, until its leader Nnamdi Kanu is released from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Recall that Kanu had been arrested from an undisclosed country and extradited to Nigeria. The separatist leader has since been remanded in the custody of the DSS and re-arraigned before the Federal High Court, Abuja for charges bothering on treasonable felony, among others weighty allegations.
In a move to force the unconditional release of Kanu, IPOB’s Director of Media and Publicity, Emma Powerful, in a statement issued on Sunday, stated that there is no going back on its Sit-At-Home order.
The statement read, “We the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra IPOB led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu wish to remind all Biafrans and friends of Biafran that the Mondays sit-at-home order is sacrosanct. The entire Biafra land will be locked down every Monday from 6:00am to 6:00pm beginning from tomorrow, August 9, 2021 until our leader, Nnamdi Kanu who was abuducted in Kenya and brought back to Nigeria and locked up in DSS dungeon in clear violation of international laws is freed.
“Consequently, there will be no movement throughout Biafra land on Mondays until our leader who is suffering for our freedom is released. This protest is peaceful but firm. Everybody is advised to stay indoors in total compliance.
“All markets, schools, motor parks, airports, and public places in Biafra land should shut down from morning to evening every Monday. We understand the economic implications of this measure but we are constrained to take it so that the world will know that our Leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not alone in the struggle for Biafra autonomy.
“We want his immediate release and our total freedom, and cannot hesitate to pay any sacrifice needed to achieve this including locking down the entire Biafra land on Mondays.
“All residents and visitors in Biafra land are advised to comply with the order. Nobody should go out to avoid any clash or intimidation by the wicked Nigeria security agents.”
This is coming despite warnings against the order by the Anambra and Abia state governments.
The Anambra State Government had issued a stern warning to government workers, saying that any worker who complies to the order will not be paid the August salary.
This was contained in a Public Service Announcement (PSA) by the state’s Head Of Service, Harry Udu. In the PSA, the state government asked workers in the state to report to their duty posts on Monday unfailingly or be sanctioned.
The announcement directed Commissioners and permanent secretaries to monitor the situation and report accordingly.
Also, the Abia State Government had kicked against the move by members of IPOB to enforce a sit-at-home order in the state.
The state government said no one must be coerced into obeying the sit-at-home order.
This was contained in a statement signed by Chief John Okiyi Kalu, the Commissioner for Information of the state.
The statement reads, “The Abia State Government is confident that the judiciary will ensure a free and manifestly fair trial for him and others as they remain innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction,” the statement said.
“We, therefore, wish to call on all citizens and visitors to continue to be law abiding and avoid any act that might lead to a breakdown of law and order.
“While the government will not compel anyone wishing to sit at home for any reason whatsoever not to do so, we wish to strongly advise that nobody should also compel or enforce any sit-at-home order from any non-state actor as doing so does not serve any known interests of the people of the state.
“Furthermore, compelling our children to stay away from schools can only serve the interests of the yet-to-be properly identified persons who may not want to see us make progress as a people.
“Similarly, our traders sitting at home at a time they need to work very hard to sustain their families and create wealth especially in this era of COVID-19 impacted global economy will obviously not serve any development interest of our hardworking citizens.
“All law abiding citizens and visitors are therefore called upon to go about their normal businesses without fear of molestation as adequate security has been provided to ensure their safety.
“Parents and guardians are also called upon to ensure that they monitor the activities of their children and wards with a view to ensuring that they do not engage in unlawful activities that will put them in harm’s way.”
