The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has officially declared the complete and permanent cancellation of the long-standing Monday sit-at-home directive across the South-East geopolitical zone, with the new policy taking immediate effect from Monday, February 9, 2026.
In a strongly worded press statement released on Sunday, February 8, 2026, and signed by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, the group stated that the decision came directly from its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who remains in custody at the Department of State Services (DSS) facility in Abuja.
The statement emphasized that Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu—referred to as the Supreme Leader of IPOB—has personally ordered the end of the sit-at-home practice, which had been observed every Monday in several states of the South-East for years. The directive was intended to pressure the federal government for Kanu’s release and highlight the group’s agitation for Biafran self-determination.
“Monday sit-at-home is over. That era is gone!” the statement declared. “Onyendu has made it abundantly clear that any individual or group attempting to enforce sit-at-home from this moment forward is acting against his direct command. Such persons are enemies of our people and the Biafran cause. They will be pursued to the ends of the earth and confronted until they are completely defeated.”
IPOB urged all residents of the South-East—comprising Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states—to resume normal economic and social activities without hesitation. Markets, schools, offices, banks, transport services, and all forms of lawful business must operate fully from tomorrow, the group insisted.
The statement explicitly warned that any person or group attempting to enforce the sit-at-home through intimidation, violence, or coercion would be treated as adversaries of the Biafran struggle. IPOB also cautioned against potential “false-flag operations” by unnamed enemies designed to create fear, stage attacks, or provoke chaos in order to undermine the new directive.
“Our people must remain vigilant, calm, and law-abiding,” the statement read. “We are aware that enemies of Biafra may attempt false-flag operations… Let it be known that any person or group identified as enforcing or enabling sit-at-home will be confronted wherever they are.”
The announcement addressed concerns raised by some traders and residents who have continued to observe the sit-at-home out of loyalty to Kanu or fear of reprisals. IPOB made it clear that no state governor has the authority to punish citizens for choosing to stay home in solidarity with Kanu. The group specifically referenced recent threats by Anambra State Governor Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo to demolish or forcibly close markets where traders refused to open on Mondays.
“Any attempt by Governor Soludo or any other governor to intimidate our people with demolition threats or forced market closures will be firmly resisted,” the statement warned.
IPOB further stipulated that any market renovation, reconstruction, or improvement projects involving temporary relocation must only proceed with the full consent of all stakeholders, and that adequate alternative trading sites must be provided before any such work begins.
The cancellation of the Monday sit-at-home marks a significant policy shift for IPOB. For several years, the weekly observance had severely disrupted economic life in the South-East, leading to billions of naira in losses, school closures, reduced commercial activity, and widespread hardship for residents. Critics of the sit-at-home had argued that it punished ordinary citizens more than the federal government, while supporters viewed it as a legitimate form of non-violent protest and civil disobedience.
The group attributed the decision to Kanu’s direct intervention and his desire to see children return to school every Monday and families pursue their livelihoods without fear. It dismissed excuses that Kanu’s directives could not be verified due to his detention, stating: “Any person in doubt should visit Sokoto Correctional Centre to confirm with him. We can no longer hide under, ‘Onyendu cannot be reached to confirm’ to persist with our recalcitrance or docility.”
IPOB concluded by calling for unity and vigilance among the people of the South-East, describing the struggle as one for freedom, dignity, and justice for all—not just Biafrans. The statement urged residents to come out en masse on Monday, open their shops, send their children to school, and go to work without fear.
“The era of Monday sit-at-home is over,” it reiterated. “We are one people, united by a common destiny.”
The announcement is likely to be closely watched by security agencies, state governments, civil society organizations, and the wider Nigerian public. While some residents and business owners may welcome the return to normalcy, others may remain cautious due to lingering fears of reprisals or conflicting signals from different factions within the pro-Biafra movement.
As of Sunday evening, neither the federal government nor any South-East governor had issued an official response to IPOB’s directive.
