Nnamdi Kanu: IPOB finally ends Monday sit-at-home in South-East

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has declared an end to the long-standing Monday sit-at-home across the South-East, announcing that the directive has been completely and permanently withdrawn with immediate effect from Monday, February 9, 2026.

The development was disclosed in a statement released on Sunday by IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, who said the decision was taken on the direct instruction of the group’s leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

According to the statement, “The Monday sit-at-home across the South-East is officially and permanently cancelled with effect from tomorrow, Monday, February 9, 2026.”

IPOB explained that the move was aimed at restoring normal socio-economic activities in the region. The statement noted that Kanu took the step to allow residents to live freely without disruptions, particularly ensuring that students return to school and business owners operate without fear.

It added that Kanu has “once again staked everything on the line to ensure that our children return to school every Monday and that our people go about their lawful businesses without fear, intimidation, or molestation”.

Emphasising the finality of the decision, the statement further said: “Any person in doubt should visit Sokoto Correctional Centre to confirm with him. We can no longer hide under ‘Onyendu cannot be reached to confirm’ to persist with our recalcitrance or docility. Monday sit-at-home is over. That era is gone!”

IPOB made it clear that there was no longer any justification for residents to remain indoors on Mondays, directing that “all markets, schools, offices, transport services, and economic activities must resume fully and normally from tomorrow”.

Describing the order as non-negotiable, the group stated, “This is the clear and unequivocal order of the Supreme Leader of IPOB.”

The group also issued a strong warning against any future enforcement of sit-at-home, stressing that Kanu had stated that “any individual or group attempting to enforce sit-at-home from this moment forward is acting against his direct command”.

IPOB added, “Such persons are enemies of our people and the Biafran cause. They will be pursued to the ends of the earth and confronted until they are completely defeated.”

The statement further alleged that “enemies of Biafra may attempt false-flag operations designed to create fear, stage attacks, or intimidate our people into staying indoors,” warning that “any person or group identified as enforcing or enabling sit-at-home will be confronted wherever they are”.

Residents of the South-East were also urged to remain “vigilant, calm, and law-abiding” as normal activities resume.

However, IPOB cautioned state governments against victimising traders who may still decide to stay away from work, insisting that such individuals should not be punished.

The group stated, “No state governor has the right to threaten, demolish, or forcibly shut down the businesses of traders who, out of conscience, choose to sit at home in solidarity with our leader.”

It specifically warned that “any attempt by Governor Soludo or any other governor to intimidate our people with demolition threats or forced market closures will be firmly resisted”.

On issues relating to market redevelopment, IPOB maintained that “any renovation, reconstruction, or improvement of markets that involves temporary relocation must be carried out only with the consent of all stakeholders,” adding that “adequate temporary trading sites must be provided before any such projects commence.”

Calling on the people to maintain unity, the group said, “Our enemies have in the past succeeded in instigating crises and planting seeds of discord among our people. We must not allow them to succeed again. We are one people, united by a common destiny.”

Reiterating its call for full compliance, IPOB urged residents to return to their daily routines, saying, “We therefore call on all our people across the South-East to come out tomorrow, open their shops, go to work, and send their children to school without fear.

“The era of Monday sit-at-home is over.”

Meanwhile, a separate IPOB faction led by Igwe Butuzo and Gentle De Yahoo had earlier announced the cancellation of the sit-at-home in a viral video on Saturday.

The group said: “This information is coming from the Triple General, General Igwe Butuzo, General De Yahoo, and all the forty state commanders in Biafraland.

“As the information reaching my table to inform Biafrans, an order from the highest command of the Biafran restoration movement, Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi, has reached us that the Monday sit-at-home is cancelled from today.

Last Monday’s sit-at-home was a one-off implemented due to Soludo’s stupidity and will not happen again.”

Reacting to the announcement, Aloy Ejimakor, legal counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, said the IPOB leader had long directed that the sit-at-home be discontinued.

He explained, “In July 2024, he had given me written instructions, which were widely published, if you recall. 

“He said that the sit-at-home be cancelled, but it persisted. It wasn’t very successful; I was threatened and all kinds of things happened, and some people, a lot of people, were opposed to it, and all that.

“So Mazi Nnamdi Kanu had always, at least from July 2024, almost two years ago, or one year and eight or nine months ago, been on the record, publicly, that this Monday sit-at-home be discontinued.

“And he also was and has always been against any attempt by any group of people to attempt to enforce it.

“So that’s it; that position has never changed. So if anybody comes up and says they are cancelling the sit-at-home, the Monday sit-at-home in Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s name, that person is not speaking out of tune.

“But my assumption is that that video is based on that instruction he had given in July 2024. I don’t think anybody can say that it’s inaccurate,” Ejimakor told DAILY POST.