By Amah
Kindly share:
In a dramatic policy reversal with far-reaching social and economic implications, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has announced the total and permanent cancellation of the Monday sit-at-home order across Nigeria’s South-east.
The decision, which takes effect from Monday, February 9, 2026, was said to have come directly from the IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who remains in detention.
The announcement was conveyed on Sunday in a statement issued by the group’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful.
According to IPOB, the directive leaves no ambiguity or room for defiance, as all residents of the South-east are expected to resume normal life and economic activities every Monday without fear or hesitation.
“The IPOB, under the supreme leadership of Nnamdi Kanu, hereby announces to the entire world that the Monday sit-at-home across the South-East is officially and permanently cancelled with effect from tomorrow, Monday, February 9, 2026,” the statement declared.
Powerful added that with this decision, markets, schools, banks, offices, transport services and all lawful economic activities must operate fully and normally, stressing that anyone enforcing or observing a sit-at-home henceforth would be acting against the explicit instruction of Kanu.
The Monday sit-at-home was first imposed by IPOB in August 2021, following the arrest and controversial rendition of Nnamdi Kanu from Kenya to Nigeria and his subsequent incarceration. The group framed the action as a non-violent protest aimed at drawing international attention to Kanu’s detention and what it described as systemic injustice against the Igbo people.
Over time, the protest transformed the rhythm of life in the South-east. Mondays became synonymous with deserted streets, locked shops, closed schools, and paralysed transport networks. While IPOB periodically announced suspensions or relaxations, compliance, often enforced by fear and opportunistic violence, persisted, exacting a heavy toll on livelihoods, education, and regional productivity.
IPOB said the latest directive reflects Kanu’s concern for the long-term welfare of the region, particularly the impact of the sit-at-home on children and small businesses.
“This directive comes directly from Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu himself, who has once again staked everything on the line to ensure that our children return to school every Monday and that our people go about their lawful businesses without fear, intimidation or molestation,” the statement said.
The group further warned that criminal elements or unauthorised actors who attempt to enforce sit-at-home measures going forward should not be linked to IPOB, insisting that such actions would amount to a direct violation of Kanu’s order.
The announcement has sparked cautious optimism among traders, parents, transport operators and residents who have long borne the economic and psychological costs of the weekly shutdown. Yet, for many in the region, confidence will depend on whether peace is guaranteed on the streets and whether enforcement by non-state actors truly ceases.
Still, IPOB’s message is unequivocal: the era of Monday shutdowns in the South-east is over, and normal life, it says, must resume without delay.
