The Indigenous Individuals of Biafra has declared Monday, February 2, 2026, a sit-at-home throughout the South-East, comprising Anambra, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi and Imo states, saying the motion is in solidarity with merchants on the Onitsha Foremost Market.
Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, on Monday ordered the closure of the Onitsha Foremost Marketplace for one week, citing continued observance of the sit-at-home declared by IPOB since July 30, 2021.
The governor had stated the sit-at-home was crippling the state’s financial system and warned towards additional compliance with the order.
Nevertheless, merchants on the market stated the sit-at-home was in solidarity with the detained chief of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, who’s standing trial on fees associated to separatist agitation.
In an announcement issued on Friday, IPOB accused Soludo of working with “Abuja collaborators” to undermine the rights of Igbo merchants and the Biafran self-determination motion.
The group introduced what it described as a “Biafra-wide solidarity strike,” calling for a complete shutdown of {economic} actions throughout the South-East and different Biafran territories on February 2.
The assertion learn partially, “The Indigenous Individuals of Biafra (IPOB), below the management of Nnamdi Kanu, hereby declares a Biafra-wide solidarity strike, a whole lockdown of all {economic} actions throughout Igboland and wider Biafran territories, on Monday, February 2, 2026.
“This motion is a direct response to the closure of the Onitsha Foremost Market by the Anambra State Governor and threats of additional punitive measures towards merchants for observing the Monday sit-at-home.”
IPOB described the market closure as an assault on merchants’ livelihoods, insisting that the sit-at-home was a voluntary act of solidarity and never enforced by the group.
The group known as on residents of the South-East to stay indoors on the stated date and chorus from business actions, urging supporters to conduct themselves peacefully and lawfully.
“On Monday, February 2, 2026, we name on all Biafrans throughout Anambra, Abia, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi and past to look at this solidarity strike peacefully,” the assertion added.
IPOB reiterated its demand for the unconditional launch of Nnamdi Kanu and accused the Anambra State Authorities of escalating tensions by way of what it described as {economic} intimidation of merchants.
The Anambra State Authorities has but to answer the most recent declaration as of the time of submitting this report.