In a significant escalation of tensions in Southeast Nigeria, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has officially declared a region-wide solidarity lockdown scheduled for Monday, February 2, 2026. The group characterizes the upcoming “sit-at-home” as a “mother of all protests,” intended to serve as a symbolic referendum on Biafran self-determination and a direct challenge to the Nigerian government.
According to a statement released by IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful, the strike is a unified response to recent punitive measures taken by Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo against traders at the Onitsha Main Market. The group accuses the governor of “economic warfare” following his decision to shut down the market and threaten the revocation of land titles for those observing previous protests. IPOB maintains that the lockdown is a voluntary display of solidarity with the penalized traders and a renewed demand for the immediate release of their detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The declaration calls for a total halt to all economic and social activities across the five Southeast states and beyond, affecting schools, banks, and transportation. While the Nigerian authorities have historically condemned such sit-at-home orders as detrimental to the local economy and public safety, IPOB insists the movement remains peaceful and non-violent. The group has urged citizens to remain indoors to avoid provocation, framing the event as a disciplined demonstration of resolve intended for the international community to witness.
