In a bold move, Simon Ekpa, the leader of the factional Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has called for a two-week sit-at-home protest in the South East region of Nigeria, News About Nigeria reports.
Ekpa’s announcement comes as a direct response to a closed-door meeting held by Southeast political leaders in Abuja.
The sit-at-home protest, scheduled to take place from July 31, 2023, to August 14, 2023, aims to address the demands of the Biafran people who are calling for increased civil disobedience.
NEWS ABOUT NIGERIA reports that Ekpa, in a tweet issued during the early hours of Tuesday, stated that the protest seeks to secure the immediate release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of IPOB.
Ekpa also emphasized that the sit-at-home protest serves as a crucial step towards Biafra’s self-referendum, demonstrating the determination of Biafrans to take control of their destiny.
The protest also aims to challenge the legitimacy of those claiming to represent Nigeria within Biafran territory.
The protest will follow a specific schedule: a total lockdown in ‘Biafraland’ from Monday, July 31, 2023, to Friday, August 4, 2023.
A break will be observed on Saturday, August 5, and Sunday, August 6, allowing for the reopening of all ‘Biafran markets’.
Another total lockdown will then take place from Monday, August 7, to Friday, August 11, 2023. A second break will occur on Saturday, August 12, and Sunday, August 13, 2023, with the reopening of ‘Biafran markets’.
Finally, a lockdown will be enforced on Monday, August 14, 2023, in ‘Biafraland’.
Ekpa has called on market leaders to strictly adhere to the sit-at-home order and treat it with the utmost seriousness.
Additionally, he has urged all oil companies operating in the Biafran territory to suspend oil exploration activities during the protest period to avoid potential backlash from the Biafran people.
The announcement of the sit-at-home order closely followed the closed-door meeting of South East political leaders in Abuja.
The meeting aimed to address the prevailing security challenges in the region and saw the attendance of prominent figures, including governors, national and state assembly members, and other leaders.
Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, expressed unity among leaders from various political parties, affirming their commitment to working together for the betterment of the region.
Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, who serves as the Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, highlighted that the meeting discussed the security challenges and outlined plans for a high-powered delegation to seek an audience with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
