The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has declared Monday, February 2, 2026, a sit-at-home across the South-East, saying the action is in solidarity with traders at the Onitsha Main Market.
The Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, on Monday ordered the closure of the Onitsha Main Market for one week, citing continued observance of the sit-at-home declared by IPOB since July 30, 2021.
The governor had stated that the sit-at-home edict was harming the state’s economy and warned against continued compliance with it.
However, market traders stated that the sit-in was in sympathy with IPOB’s arrested leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who is on trial for separatist agitation.
In a statement released on Friday and obtained by our correspondent, IPOB accused Soludo of conspiring with “Abuja collaborators” to undermine Igbo traders’ rights and the Biafran self-determination struggle.
IPOB announced what it described as a “Biafra-wide solidarity strike,” calling for a total shutdown of economic activities across the South-East and other Biafran territories on February 2.
The statement read in part, “The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), 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.
“This action is a direct response to the closure of the Onitsha Main Market by the Anambra State Governor and threats of further punitive measures against traders for observing the Monday sit-at-home.”
The group described the closure of the market as an attack on traders’ livelihoods, insisting that the sit-at-home was a voluntary act of solidarity and not enforced by the group.
The group urged people of the South-East to stay indoors on the specified date and refrain from commercial activities, while also urging supporters to conduct themselves peacefully and legally.
“On Monday, February 2, 2026, we call on all Biafrans across Anambra, Abia, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi, and beyond to observe this solidarity strike peacefully,” the statement added.
IPOB renewed its demand for Nnamdi Kanu’s unconditional release, accusing the Anambra State Government of raising tensions through economic intimidation of traders.
The Anambra State Government has yet to respond to the most recent declaration as of the time of reporting this story.
