IPOB Declares February 2 Sit-at-Home Across South-East, Accuses Soludo of Economic Intimidation

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has announced a region-wide sit-at-home scheduled for Monday, February 2, 2026, across the five states of Nigeria’s South-East—Anambra, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, and Imo. The group says the action is a solidarity protest in support of traders affected by the recent closure of the Onitsha Main Market by the Anambra State Government.

The declaration comes amid renewed tensions between the separatist group and the Anambra State administration following Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s decision to shut down the popular commercial hub for one week. The governor cited the persistent observance of sit-at-home orders in the state—initially declared by IPOB in July 2021—as a major factor crippling economic activities and undermining livelihoods. He warned that the government would no longer tolerate compliance with what it described as unlawful disruptions to economic life.

However, traders at the Onitsha Main Market have pushed back against the governor’s narrative, insisting that their decision to stay away from business activities on Mondays is rooted in solidarity with IPOB’s detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu. Kanu is currently facing trial on charges related to separatist agitation, and his continued detention has remained a rallying point for IPOB supporters across the South-East and beyond.

In a strongly worded statement issued on Friday and obtained by journalists, IPOB accused Governor Soludo of acting in concert with what it described as “Abuja collaborators” to suppress the economic and political rights of Igbo traders. The group characterized the market closure as an act of economic intimidation aimed at forcing compliance with government directives while ignoring the grievances of the people.

According to IPOB, the February 2 sit-at-home will take the form of a “Biafra-wide solidarity strike,” involving a total shutdown of economic, commercial, and social activities across Igboland and other areas it identifies as Biafran territories. The group emphasized that the action is a direct response to the closure of the Onitsha Main Market and alleged threats of further punitive measures against traders who observe the sit-at-home.

“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,” the statement read. “This action is a direct response to the closure of the Onitsha Main Market by the Anambra State Governor and the continued harassment of traders for peacefully observing the Monday sit-at-home.”

IPOB maintained that the sit-at-home observance is voluntary and not enforced by the group, countering frequent claims by state authorities that violence and intimidation are used to compel compliance. The group insisted that traders and residents participate out of conviction and solidarity, particularly in protest against what it sees as the prolonged and unjust detention of its leader.

The organization also called on residents of the South-East to remain indoors on the declared date and to refrain from all commercial activities. While urging strict adherence to the sit-at-home, IPOB appealed to its supporters to conduct themselves peacefully and lawfully, warning against acts that could lead to violence or loss of life.

“On Monday, February 2, 2026, we call on all Biafrans across Anambra, Abia, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi and beyond to observe this solidarity strike peacefully,” the statement added. “Our struggle is rooted in justice, dignity, and self-determination, not lawlessness.”

The group reiterated its long-standing demand for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, accusing the Anambra State Government of escalating tensions in the region through economic sanctions rather than dialogue. IPOB warned that continued crackdowns on traders and businesses could further inflame public anger and deepen distrust between the people and the state.

As of the time of filing this report, the Anambra State Government had not issued an official response to IPOB’s latest declaration. Meanwhile, reactions to the announcement have continued to pour in across social and political spaces, reflecting deep divisions over the sit-at-home strategy, its economic impact, and the broader question of agitation and governance in the South-East.

The February 2 declaration once again places the South-East at a crossroads, highlighting the delicate balance between maintaining economic stability and addressing the political grievances that continue to shape the region’s socio-political landscape.