The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has announced the official and permanent cancellation of the Monday sit-at-home across the South-East, effective February 9, 2026. The directive comes directly from IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, according to the group’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful.
The Monday sit-at-home had been in place since August 2021 as a form of protest following Kanu’s rendition to Nigeria and his subsequent incarceration. During the exercise, markets, schools, offices, and transport services were routinely shut down.
In the statement, Powerful emphasized that:
- There is no longer any reason for anyone to stay home on Mondays.
- All economic activities, schools, markets, and offices must resume normally.
- Any person or group attempting to enforce the sit-at-home from this point onward would be acting against Kanu’s orders and considered an enemy of the Biafran cause.
The group also addressed attempts to intimidate people, stating:
“Any person or group identified as enforcing or enabling sit-at-home will be confronted. Our people must remain vigilant, calm, and law-abiding.”
Additionally, IPOB clarified that state governors have no authority to force traders to stay home or demolish markets in connection with the sit-at-home. Renovations or improvements must be conducted with the consent of stakeholders, ensuring temporary trading arrangements are provided.
The statement concluded with a call for unity and normalcy:
“Our people across the South-East should open their shops, go to work, and send their children to school without fear. The era of Monday sit-at-home is over.”
This announcement marks a significant shift in IPOB’s public directives, signaling the end of a five-year protest practice in the region.
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