QThe Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB) has declared September 14 as another day it will implement its self-styled sit-at-home order in South-Eastern Nigeria.
The pro-Biafra group told residents to boycott commercial and social activities.
This was confirmed in a statement issued by its Head, Directorate of Service, Mazi Chika Edoziem.
Edoziem said the order is a memorial of the massacre carried out by the military men three years ago in the region, especially in Umuahia, the Abia State capital.
The statement read, “We recall very vividly the carnage of September 12, 2018, by the Nigerian Army which through its ‘Operation Python Dance II’ without any provocation and any reason whatsoever invaded and occupied Biafraland humiliating, maiming and massacring our people.
“It is still fresh in our minds when on the 14th of September, these murderers and terrorists in army uniform went further to desecrate the traditional stool of the Afaraukwu Kingdom in Umuahia shooting and killing everything in sight resulting in the cold-blooded murder of more than 38 Biafran youths and arrest of an unspecified number of Biafran men and women.
“Recall that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) worldwide has since 2018 set aside September 14 of every year as a day of civil disobedience in the whole of Biafraland.
“Following the well-established custom, September 14, 2021, is declared a sit-at-home in Biafraland.”
The New Diplomat had earlier reported that the proscribed group had given the Federal Government an 11-day ultimatum to release its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
The group then commenced a weekly lockdown in the Southeast region of Nigeria.
This was contained in a statement by Edoziem.
Edoziem, in the statement, said that Kanu is not a criminal and as such shouldn’t be in the prison.
According to him, the call for self-determination is not a crime.
He also noted that the total lockdown will only take place on Mondays until Kanu is released.
The statement reads partly: “The global community knows that self-determination is not a crime, the Nigerian government equally know that self-determination does not constitute any known offence stipulated in their constitution and therefore do not have any case against the leader of IPOB, Mazi Kanu.
“In recognition of the above fact and truth, the Directorate of State of IPOB, demands herewith an unconditional and immediate release of our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on or before the 8th day of August 2021, failing which we shall commence a weekly Lockdown of Biafra land starting from 9th August 2021.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this total lockdown of Biafra land will take place every Monday until our leader is released unconditionally.
Edoziem later announced that the sit-at-home order would no longer hold every Monday as scheduled but will hold any day their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is making an appearance in court.
The move, according to Edoziem is aimed at forcing the unconditional release of their leader.
In his words, “I wish to announce this very evening, that as directed by the highest command of this noble movement, our Monday Ghost Town or sit-at-home in Biafra land, stands suspended for now.
”The weekly sit-at-home stands suspended, which means in the coming Monday, there will be no Ghost Town in Biafraland.
“Our sit-at-home will be on each court date when our leader, Onye Ndu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will be appearing in court.”a
