Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, a pan-Igbo socio-cultural organization, has ordered the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to stop issuing sit-at-home orders in the southeast geopolitical zone.
These sit-at-home orders were issued and enforced by IPOB in protest of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who was re-arrested and imprisoned in June.
If Kanu is not brought to court on his next trial date of October 21, IPOB vowed to enforce a month-long sit-at-home in the southeast, rather than the present structure of every Monday each week.
IPOB, on the other hand, according to Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, would be better off encouraging members to attack Abuja, the nation's capital, in protest rather than further strangling the southeast's economy with endless sit-at-home orders.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide are committed to providing a political solution for the release of the IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from custody,” a statement from Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, reads.
“The exponents of sit-at-home should be cautious of the regaining consciousness of Ndigbo to defy further directives, as the best approach before the IPOB leadership is to mobilise the disciples of Nnamdi Kanu in millions to take advantage of the October 21st court trial and massively take over the streets of Abuja peacefully without confrontation with security agencies, so that the international community will handle the matter and convince the federal government to do the needful.
“If 60 million IPOB members as acclaimed by the leadership can storm Abuja, they will be forced to produce Nnamdi Kanu before the Abuja High Court as southeast sit-at-home is fading away.
“IPOB will gradually lose Igbo support if they continue to make things difficult for Ndigbo, especially with the continuous denial of not being accountable for the various scandals and crimes committed against humanity by the so-called cultists, who disguise under the sit-at-home orders to perpetrate evil.”
Kanu's problems with the Nigerian government began in 2015, when the DSS apprehended him. He was held in detention for two years until being granted bail in April 2017 due to his condition.
After that, he left the nation in 2017.
The separatist is facing treasonous felony and terrorism allegations.
IPOB's incessant sit-at-home commands have exacerbated tensions in the southeast.