IPOB Declares South-East Sit-at-Home for February 2, Criticizes Governor Soludo
IPOB Declares South-East Sit-at-Home for February 2, Criticizes Governor Soludo
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has declared Monday, February 2, 2026, a total sit-at-home across the South-East.
This order covers Anambra, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, and Imo states, demanding a full halt to all commercial and social activities.
The group stated that the action is intended to show solidarity with Onitsha Main Market traders following recent government sanctions.
The move directly challenges Governor Chukwuma Soludo, who recently shut down the Onitsha Main Market for one week. Soludo argued that the recurring Monday sit-at-home is destroying the state’s economy and warned of further penalties for those who comply.
He insisted that the state must remain open for business to prevent further financial decline.
In a Friday statement, IPOB accused Soludo of collaborating with federal authorities to suppress the rights of Igbo traders. The group characterized the government’s market closure as a direct attack on the people’s livelihoods. They maintained that the sit-at-home is a voluntary act of protest rather than a forced directive.
The group’s spokesperson called for a “Biafra-wide solidarity strike,” urging all residents to stay indoors and avoid business activities on the scheduled date. The group framed this lockdown as a necessary response to the governor’s punitive measures. According to the statement “The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), under the leadership of Nnamdi Kanu, hereby declares a Biafra-wide solidarity strike, a complete lockdown of all economic activities across Igboland and wider Biafran territories, on Monday, February 2, 2026. This action is a direct response to the closure of the Onitsha Main Market by the Anambra State Governor and threats of further punitive measures against traders for observing the Monday sit-at-home”.
IPOB also reiterated its call for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, who remains in detention. They stated that the sit-at-home serves as a primary tool to protest his ongoing trial and separatist charges.
Supporters were urged to remain peaceful and avoid any form of lawlessness during the planned lockdown.
Market traders previously noted that their compliance was a peaceful show of support for Kanu’s release. However, the state government maintains that these strikes are self-destructive to the region’s development.
This clash between political protest and economic stability continues to create significant tension for South-East residents.
As of the latest report, the Anambra State Government has not formally responded to this new declaration. Security agencies are expected to be on high alert while the public remains caught between government mandates and the group’s strike order.
The situation remains fluid as both sides refuse to back down.
