IPOB Spokesperson Clarifies February 2 Sit-at-Home as Isolated Incident
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has issued a clear statement regarding the recent sit-at-home action observed on February 2 in parts of Onitsha, Anambra State. According to IPOB spokesperson, Emma Powerful, this was a one-off action and does not signal a return to the weekly Monday lockdowns that previously plagued the South-East region.
Context and Reasons Behind the February 2 Action
Powerful explained that the February 2 sit-at-home was specifically organized as a reaction to what IPOB describes as the increasingly authoritarian posture of Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo. This decision followed recent tensions between the state government and traders in Onitsha, highlighting growing discontent with local governance.
"The sit-at-home observed on Monday, February 2, 2026, was not a policy shift by IPOB," Powerful stated. He emphasized that IPOB has consistently opposed weekly shutdowns because its members are largely traders, artisans, transporters, and small business owners who depend on daily economic activity for survival.
Historical Background of Monday Sit-at-Home
Powerful provided context by recalling that the Monday sit-at-home protests began in August 2021 as a measure to demand the release of IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who was then in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS). However, this action was later cancelled on Kanu's directive after widespread concerns emerged about its negative impact on the Igbo economy.
The cancellation was widely welcomed across the South-East, and IPOB has repeatedly distanced itself from criminal elements who continued to enforce sit-at-home through violence and intimidation. Powerful insisted that linking IPOB to ongoing Monday shutdowns after the cancellation is unfair and misleading.
IPOB's Stance on Economic Disruptions and Governance
While IPOB has occasionally called for sit-at-home actions on days when Nnamdi Kanu appeared in court, Powerful noted that these were limited and observed voluntarily in solidarity, without coercion. He stressed that IPOB does not take pleasure in sit-at-home actions but argued that when an elected Igbo governor threatens citizens with demolitions and force, especially at a time when Igbo properties are being destroyed in other parts of the country, people are bound to express their displeasure.
Powerful maintained that peaceful expressions of anger over the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu should not be met with intimidation. He warned that such an approach only deepens resentment and mistrust among the populace.
Criticism of South-East Governors and Call for Dialogue
In his statement, Powerful also accused the South-East Governors' Forum of lacking genuine interest in Kanu's release. He questioned why there was what he described as active support for his conviction despite, in IPOB's view, a lack of evidence of wrongdoing.
He reiterated that sit-at-home protests had been ended long ago and made it clear that going forward, there would be no enforcement of such actions. IPOB does not want Igbo traders harassed or threatened for choosing to open their businesses, emphasizing that the group stands against any form of collective punishment.
According to Powerful, the solution lies in dialogue, justice, and respect for the rule of law, not intimidation. He stressed that the issue extends beyond IPOB to the broader feelings of injustice among the Igbo people, calling for a more constructive approach to address underlying grievances.
This clarification from IPOB aims to dispel fears of a return to disruptive weekly lockdowns while highlighting ongoing political and social tensions in the region.
