Parts of Igboland remained largely quiet on Monday as many citizens voluntarily observed the weekly sit-at-home in solidarity with the continued detention of Indigenous People of Biafra leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
In a press statement, IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful clarified that the enforcement of the Monday sit-at-home has officially ended following a directive by Kanu over the weekend.
“This Monday observance is therefore a voluntary civic decision by free people. Biafrans are not slaves; they are free citizens who can decide what to do with their Mondays,” the statement read.
Powerful emphasized that IPOB is committed to democratic principles, insisting that no one is being forced to observe the sit-at-home. He added that citizens exercising their right to civil disobedience would not face harassment.
Those who spoke with journalists said the unconditional release of Kanu remains their top demand, stressing that normalcy in commercial and economic activities would only return fully when he is freed.
“Freedom is a choice. The people have spoken,” the IPOB spokesperson said, highlighting the voluntary nature of Monday’s observance and reaffirming the organisation’s stance on allowing citizens to decide for themselves.
Kanu, who has been in the custody of the Department of State Services since June 2021, faces terrorism-related charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja. His trial has been marked by legal challenges, with his lawyers arguing that his repatriation from Kenya violated international law and due process.
The sit-at-home, which began as a form of civil protest demanding Kanu’s release, has in the past significantly disrupted economic activities across the Southeast region. Markets, schools, banks, and transport services have regularly been affected on Mondays, leading to complaints from business owners and residents about lost revenue and restricted movement.
In some instances, the observance has been enforced through intimidation and violence by armed groups claiming to act in solidarity with IPOB’s cause, despite repeated denials and condemnations by the organisation’s leadership. IPOB has consistently distanced itself from violent enforcement and urged residents to go about their lawful activities.
The recent directive by Kanu marks a shift in the group’s approach, as it formally ends the enforcement of the Monday sit-at-home while acknowledging that some residents may choose to observe it voluntarily as an expression of solidarity.
