The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has reiterated that the Monday sit-at-home is not a criminal act but a voluntary, peaceful civil protest meant to show solidarity with its convicted leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, on Sunday, the group criticized Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo for threatening to sanction teachers and civil servants who fail to report to work on Mondays. The state government had earlier announced plans to implement pro-rata salary payments from February 2026 to discourage the weekly shutdown.
IPOB described the governor’s stance as an attack on the dignity of the people, insisting that citizens have the right to remain indoors as a non-violent expression of conscience. “Monday sit-at-home is civil disobedience, not terrorism. If traders, students, professionals, elders and youths choose to stay home, that is their right. It is not a crime,” the statement read.
The group argued that frustration in Igboland is deep and historically justified, accusing Soludo of trying to impress Abuja power brokers instead of addressing the injustice fueling agitation. It warned that any attempt to deploy enforcement squads or coercive measures against citizens would cross a “red line.”
IPOB emphasised that participation in the sit-at-home is voluntary and symbolic, adding: “The solution is not threats. The solution is justice. The solution is the release of Mazi Kanu, who is the symbol of our freedom and hope.”
The group urged Soludo to stop threatening Ndi Anambra and Ndi Igbo, stressing that his duty is to protect and serve, not punish or provoke.