Cancellation of Monday Sit-at-Home Falters in South-East as Kanu’s Release Remains Central

The cancellation of the long-standing Monday sit-at-home order in the South-East by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) met widespread scepticism on Monday, as many residents and businesses across the region failed to resume normal activities.

Despite IPOB’s announcement that the directive, in place for about five years, had been lifted, schools, offices, markets and motor parks in several cities remained largely closed. The group’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, maintained that only the unconditional release of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, would restore full normalcy to Mondays in the region.

In a statement issued on Sunday, IPOB said the sit-at-home order had been officially cancelled, urging residents to return to their routine activities. Powerful noted that the directive emanated from Kanu, who is currently serving a life sentence over terrorism-related charges and is being held in a correctional facility in Sokoto State.

However, observations across major South-East cities showed limited compliance. In Aba, Abia State, markets, schools and offices remained shut, while only traders who had previously operated on Mondays continued to do so. Though the gates of Ariaria and Ahia Ohuru markets were open, trading activities were minimal, with few buyers or sellers present.

Federal Government offices also remained closed, as workers who have stayed away since the sit-at-home began in August 2021 did not resume. Motor parks that had suspended operations on Mondays equally remained inactive across the region.

Some residents expressed doubts about the effectiveness of the cancellation. A trader at Ahia Ohuru market, Uchenna Eze, said a mere announcement was insufficient to end the practice. He noted that many traders had adjusted to operating between Tuesday and Saturday and were unwilling to change without assurances of safety.

Similarly, a school proprietor in Aba, Ikedieze Ohabughiro, said he was unaware of the directive, adding that only Kanu’s physical release would convince people to reopen their businesses and schools.

In Enugu, a book dealer at Ogbete market, Vincent Eke, recounted receiving threats in the past for operating on Mondays, including detailed warnings about his family and residence. He said such experiences forced him to stop opening his shop on Mondays, a position shared by other traders who cited persistent insecurity.

Executive Director of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Ibuchukwu Ezike, said residents had continued to observe the sit-at-home out of conviction rather than coercion. He added that rebuilding trust in government and addressing Kanu’s detention were key to changing the situation.

Reacting on Monday, Powerful reiterated that IPOB was no longer enforcing the sit-at-home, describing ongoing observance as a voluntary act of solidarity by residents. He stressed that no one would be harassed for choosing to go about lawful activities.

According to him, the group’s stance remains that people are free to decide how to observe their Mondays, but insisted that Kanu’s unconditional release remains the central issue.

“Freedom is a choice. The people have spoken,” Powerful said.