Anambra State experienced significant disruption on Monday, February 2, 2026, due to a sit-at-home order associated with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu. IPOB and observers reported high levels of observance, with the group claiming up to 85% compliance across the state, leading to deserted streets, closed banks, schools, offices, and markets for much of the day.
Media outlets, including Oriental Times, Igbere TV, Punch Newspapers, Sahara Reporters, Blueprint, and AIT, shared reports and visuals showing empty major roads and shuttered businesses, underscoring the widespread impact on economic and social life in Anambra and parts of the South-East.
In a statement released on February 3, 2026, Abuja-based public policy analyst Barrister Christopher Chidera described the event as a major paralysis of activities in the region. He highlighted Governor Chukwuma Soludo's afternoon visit (between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.) to a market—reportedly Onitsha Main Market—as a "damage control" effort rather than a genuine evaluation of business operations.
Chidera alleged that the visit appeared staged, involving mobilized supporters for media optics to suggest normalcy amid the shutdown. He argued that a truly functioning market would typically see official inspections in the morning, with active trading rather than rally-like participation. The analyst further claimed that up to N50 million may have been spent on logistics, crowd mobilization, and media coordination for the event, though these figures remain unverified and the Anambra State Government has not responded to the accusations as of the latest reports.
Chidera emphasized that online videos and photos of vacant streets and closed premises contradicted government narratives of business resumption, asserting that residents were not swayed by such displays. "The people are not deceived by optics," he stated, noting that visual evidence continues to document the extent of compliance.
This sit-at-home stemmed from tensions over the Onitsha Main Market, where Soludo had previously ordered closures and threatened demolitions for non-compliance with directives to ignore Monday shutdowns. IPOB framed its order as solidarity with affected traders.
As of the time of this report, the Anambra State Government had issued no official statement addressing the reported compliance levels, the alleged spending, or criticisms of the governor's market appearance. Conflicting accounts persist, with some sources indicating partial market reopenings later in the day, while IPOB and supporters maintained that the directive achieved near-total observance.
