After years of disruption to social and economic life in the South-East, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has announced the total and permanent cancellation of the Monday sit-at-home across the region. The group said the directive takes immediate effect from Monday, February 9, 2026.
The announcement was made on Sunday in a statement issued by IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful. According to the statement, the decision came directly from IPOB’s leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who is currently in detention.
“The Monday sit-at-home across the South-East is officially and permanently cancelled with effect from tomorrow, Monday, February 9, 2026,” the statement said.
The sit-at-home order, which was initially introduced to demand the release of Kanu, had over time become a regular feature every Monday in the five South-East states. While the directive was not always officially enforced by IPOB in recent years, fear of violence and attacks led many residents, traders, and transport operators to stay indoors.
IPOB said Kanu took the decision to allow normal life to return to the South-East, especially for students, workers, and business owners who have suffered heavy losses.
According to the statement, Kanu has “once again staked everything on the line to ensure that our children return to school every Monday and that our people go about their lawful businesses without fear, intimidation, or molestation.”
The group added that excuses about not being able to reach Kanu for confirmation should no longer be used to continue enforcing sit-at-home.
“Any person in doubt should visit Sokoto Correctional Centre to confirm with him. We can no longer hide under ‘Onyendu cannot be reached to confirm’ to persist with our recalcitrance or docility. Monday sit-at-home is over. That era is gone!” the statement said.
IPOB made it clear that there is no longer any reason for residents of the South-East to stay at home on Mondays. It directed that markets, schools, offices, transport services, banks, and other economic activities must fully resume.
“There is no need, excuse, or justification for anyone to stay at home on Mondays,” the group said, describing the directive as final and non-negotiable.
“This is the clear and unequivocal order of the Supreme Leader of IPOB,” the statement added.
The group also warned against any attempt to continue enforcing sit-at-home under any guise. According to IPOB, Kanu has given a clear order that anyone who enforces sit-at-home from now on is acting against his command.
“Any individual or group attempting to enforce sit-at-home from this moment forward is acting against his direct command,” IPOB said.
“Such persons are enemies of our people and the Biafran cause. They will be pursued to the ends of the earth and confronted until they are completely defeated.”
Over the years, sit-at-home orders have led to loss of lives, destruction of property, and severe economic hardship in the South-East. Many residents have complained of threats, attacks, and forced closures of shops and markets. Schools were also affected, as parents often kept children at home out of fear.
IPOB claimed that some of the violence associated with sit-at-home was carried out by “criminal elements” and enemies of the group, using the situation to cause fear and chaos.
The group warned that such elements may still try to stage attacks to scare people into staying indoors.
“Enemies of Biafra may attempt false-flag operations designed to create fear, stage attacks, or intimidate our people into staying indoors,” IPOB said.
It warned that anyone identified as enforcing or encouraging sit-at-home would be confronted.
At the same time, IPOB urged residents of the South-East to remain calm, vigilant, and law-abiding as they resume normal activities.
However, the group also cautioned state governments against punishing traders or residents who may still decide to stay at home for personal reasons.
“No state governor has the right to threaten, demolish, or forcibly shut down the businesses of traders who, out of conscience, choose to sit at home in solidarity with our leader,” the statement said.
IPOB specifically warned Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, and other governors against using demolition threats or forced market closures to compel compliance.
It also spoke on market redevelopment projects, saying any renovation or reconstruction that requires temporary relocation of traders must be done with the agreement of all stakeholders.
“Adequate temporary trading sites must be provided before any such projects commence,” the group said.
Calling for unity among people of the South-East, IPOB urged residents not to allow external forces to create division.
“Our enemies have in the past succeeded in instigating crises and planting seeds of discord among our people. We must not allow them to succeed again. We are one people, united by a common destiny,” the statement said.
The group again called on residents to return to their normal lives without fear.
“We therefore call on all our people across the South-East to come out tomorrow, open their shops, go to work, and send their children to school without fear. The era of Monday sit-at-home is over.”
The announcement followed an earlier statement made on Saturday in a viral video by another IPOB-linked group led by Igwe Butuzo and Gentle De Yahoo. In the video, they also announced the cancellation of the Monday sit-at-home.
According to the group, the decision came from the highest level of the Biafran movement.
“This information is coming from the Triple General, General Igwe Butuzo, General De Yahoo, and all the forty state commanders in Biafraland,” the speaker said.
He added that the previous Monday sit-at-home was a one-time action linked to issues involving the Anambra State government and would not be repeated.