South‑East Sit‑At‑Home Won’t End Through Orders — Lawyer Says Only Kanu’s Release Will Stop It

The ongoing sit‑at‑home protests in Nigeria’s South‑East are unlikely to end through government directives, according to Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, lawyer to IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. He stated that only Kanu’s release could stop the weekly shutdowns.

Ejimakor spoke after Anambra State authorities ordered the temporary closure of the Onitsha Main Market in a bid to enforce compliance, following continued observance of the Monday sit‑at‑home by traders.

Governor Chukwuma Soludo warned that businesses must operate from Monday to Saturday, or face sanctions including relocation, citing the disruptions to commerce and public life.

Ejimakor maintained that the sit‑at‑home reflects the deep frustration of the region over Kanu’s detention and cannot be ended by executive orders alone. He called for political solutions to address the grievances driving the protests.

The sit‑at‑home campaigns have repeatedly affected daily activities and commerce across the South‑East, highlighting the tension between government authority and local calls for justice.