IPOB Cancels Sit-At-Home Order: A New Dawn for South-East Nigeria

 

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has officially scrapped its long-standing “Monday sit-at-home” directive across the South-East region of Nigeria, bringing an end to a protest strategy that has significantly disrupted life and economic activity for years.

What Happened?

IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, announced that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu — IPOB’s detained leader  has ordered the total and permanent cancellation of the weekly Monday sit-at-home, effective Monday, February 9, 2026.

This directive urges residents of the South-East to resume normal activities including opening markets, attending school, and engaging in business without fear or intimidation.

Why It Matters

The Monday sit-at-home was first declared in August 2021 and had seen markets, offices, schools, and transport services shut down every Monday in protest of Kanu’s detention, often enforced through violence and intimidation. The practice has been linked to:

recurring economic losses,

disruptions in education,

and violent incidents in the region.

IPOB’s Message

IPOB insists the cancellation is definitive and that no individual or group should enforce the old directive. Anyone attempting to do so would be acting against Kanu’s orders, the group says.

The statement also warns against false-flag intimidation efforts aimed at creating fear or continuing forced lockdowns.

Reaction and Transition

While the directive is official, some parts of Igboland observed a voluntary sit-at-home, interpreted by some locals as solidarity with Kanu’s continued detention. IPOB clarified that such observance is now a matter of individual choice and no longer enforced.

Community and business groups have welcomed the move, saying it can unlock economic potential and help restore peace and normalcy in the region.

After nearly five years of weekly lockdowns, IPOB has called off the Monday sit-at-home order. The hope is that markets, schools, transport services, and other activities will now operate normally, a shift that could reshape social and economic life across the South-East.