The (IPOB) Indigenous People of Biafra has announced a sit-at-home for Monday, February 2, 2026, across the South-East, covering Anambra, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi and Imo states, stating that the move is in support of traders at the Onitsha Main Market.
Wizopa Online reports that the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, on Monday directed the shutdown of the Onitsha Main Market for one week, attributing the decision to the continued observance of the sit-at-home declared by IPOB since July 30, 2021.
The governor stated that the sit-at-home was damaging the state’s economy and cautioned against further adherence to the directive.
However, traders at the market maintained that the sit-at-home was an expression of solidarity with the detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who is currently facing trial over charges linked to separatist agitation.
In a statement released on Friday and obtained by our correspondent, IPOB alleged that Soludo was collaborating with “Abuja collaborators” to suppress the rights of Igbo traders and weaken the Biafran self-determination struggle.
The group declared what it termed a “Biafra-wide solidarity strike,” calling for a complete halt to 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.”
IPOB characterised the market closure as an assault on traders’ means of livelihood, stressing that the sit-at-home was a voluntary show of solidarity and not imposed by the group.
The organisation urged residents of the South-East to stay indoors on the specified date and suspend commercial activities, while encouraging supporters to act peacefully and within the law.
“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 restated its call for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu and accused the Anambra State Government of heightening tensions through what it described as economic intimidation of traders.
As of the time of filing this report, the Anambra State Government had not responded to the latest declaration.
