The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has announced a sit-at-home across the South-East on Monday, February 2, 2026, in solidarity with traders at the Onitsha Main Market.
The directive covers Anambra, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi and Imo states, with the group calling for a complete shutdown of economic activities in what it described as a “Biafra-wide solidarity strike.”
PUNCH Online reports that Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, earlier ordered the closure of the Onitsha Main Market for one week, citing the continued observance of sit-at-home protests that have persisted since July 30, 2021. The governor warned that the protests were crippling the state’s economy and vowed to clamp down on further compliance.
However, traders at the market said their actions were in solidarity with the detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who is currently standing trial over charges linked to separatist agitation.
In a statement issued on Friday, IPOB accused Governor Soludo of collaborating with what it called “Abuja collaborators” to undermine the rights of Igbo traders and suppress the Biafran self-determination movement.
The group said the planned sit-at-home was a direct response to the market closure and alleged threats of further sanctions against traders.
“The Indigenous People of Biafra, 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.
IPOB described the closure of the Onitsha Main Market as an attack on traders’ livelihoods, insisting that the sit-at-home observed by residents was voluntary and not enforced by the group.
It called on residents of the South-East to remain indoors and suspend commercial activities on the said date, urging supporters to conduct themselves peacefully and lawfully.
IPOB also renewed its demand for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu and accused the Anambra State Government of escalating tensions through what it termed economic intimidation of traders.
As of the time of filing this report, the Anambra State Government had yet to react to the latest declaration.
