Residents of South-East Nigeria continued to observe the sit-at-home protest on Monday, despite the recent arrest of Simon Ekpa, a self-proclaimed Biafran leader, by Finnish authorities. Economic and social activities across the region were significantly disrupted, with schools, markets, and other businesses remaining closed.
The sit-at-home protest, originally initiated by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), began as a form of civil disobedience against the detention of IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Despite court rulings declaring Kanu’s 2021 extradition from Kenya illegal, the Nigerian government has yet to release him. While IPOB leadership has officially called off the protest, factions led by individuals like Ekpa, who resides in Finland, have continued to enforce it.
Uncertainty and fear of violence have deepened the impact of the sit-at-home order. In some areas, reports of threats by unknown individuals led to school closures. For example, a school in the region announced that only senior students attending special lessons without uniforms would be allowed on Mondays, citing security concerns.
In Anambra State, commercial activities were paralyzed. Traders at the Awka main market shut their shops after rumors spread about potential attacks by gunmen targeting markets that opened on Mondays. The Anambra Innovation Week, which commenced on Monday, also recorded a low turnout due to movement restrictions and fears of violence. Deputy Governor Dr. Onyekachi Ibezim, who declared the event open, expressed optimism for increased participation later in the week.
Similar disruptions were reported in other parts of the region, including Enugu, Abakaliki, and Owerri. Residents avoided public spaces, and economic activities slowed significantly as clashes between security forces and militia groups linked to the Biafra agitation continued.
The enduring protest highlights ongoing tensions in the South-East as calls for Kanu’s release and the enforcement of court orders remain unresolved.
