IPOB Pushes Back On Soludo Warning
The Indigenous People of Biafra has declared that the Monday sit-at-home observed across parts of the South-East is a lawful and peaceful civil protest, not a criminal act.
The group said the action is a voluntary show of solidarity with its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu, and not an attempt to disrupt public order.
The statement was issued on Sunday by the group’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, in response to comments by Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
The governor had warned that civil servants who fail to report for work on Mondays could face sanctions, as the state moves to end the weekly shutdown affecting economic activities.
The Anambra State Government recently announced plans to introduce pro-rata salary payments for workers who do not work full days. Officials said the policy, expected to take effect from February 2026, is aimed at discouraging the sit-at-home and restoring normal business operations across the state.
IPOB criticised the move, describing it as an attempt to punish citizens for exercising their right to peaceful protest.
The group argued that staying indoors on Mondays is a matter of personal choice and conscience, insisting that no government has the authority to force people to open their businesses or move around against their will.
The group warned that any attempt to use task forces or security units to intimidate residents would worsen tensions.
It urged the state government to focus on dialogue and justice, maintaining that the continued detention of Kanu remains at the heart of the agitation and the reason the sit-at-home persists.
