The proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra has announced the complete cancellation of the Monday sit-at-home across the South-East, with effect from February 9, 2026.
The group’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday, saying the directive was given by IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
According to the statement, Kanu ordered that economic and social activities resume fully across the region, stressing that there was no longer any justification for residents to remain indoors on Mondays.
“With effect from Monday, February 9, 2026, the Monday sit-at-home across the South-East is permanently called off,” the statement read.
“This instruction comes directly from our leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who has insisted that our people must return to their normal lives without fear.”
Powerful recalled that the sit-at-home, first introduced in August 2021, was meant to protest Kanu’s arrest and continued detention, during which businesses, schools and offices were shut weekly.
He said the latest order puts an end to the exercise, warning that anyone attempting to enforce sit-at-home going forward would be acting against Kanu’s directive.
“There is now no excuse for anyone to stay at home on Mondays. Markets, schools, offices, transport services and all lawful activities must resume normally,” he said.
The group further cautioned that individuals or groups using intimidation or violence to compel residents to observe sit-at-home were not acting on IPOB’s instructions, adding that such actions would be resisted.
IPOB also urged residents of the South-East to remain calm, law-abiding and vigilant, while assuring them that the directive marked the end of the Monday sit-at-home era.
The group concluded by calling on traders, workers and students to go about their daily activities without fear, insisting that the order to end the sit-at-home was final.