IPOB sit-at-home Anambra has triggered fresh tension as traders and residents of Onitsha face a Monday showdown with the state government over the resumption of market activities. The Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) last Friday called on traders, transporters, civil servants, and schools to observe a “peaceful solidarity sit-at-home,” citing the continued detention of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
The call followed Governor Charles Soludo’s week-long closure of the Onitsha Main Market, which he said was necessary to maintain order amid the Monday shutdown. IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, described the governor’s action as an attempt to undermine peaceful civil disobedience.
The state government, however, dismissed the allegations. Information Commissioner Dr Law Mefor said the sit-at-home had shifted from a political protest to a criminal enterprise and stressed that all markets and shops would reopen. He warned that traders who defy the order would face sanctions, including the possible revocation of shop ownership.
At a Friday meeting with market leaders, Soludo’s administration pledged enhanced security across the market, with armed police, military, civil defence, and local vigilante forces deployed to ensure compliance. The market leadership agreed to introduce attendance registers, with local government officials supervising traders’ presence.
Market leaders also confirmed plans to begin a three-year reconstruction of the Onitsha Main Market, returning the facility to its original master plan. “Anyone who does not come to the market risks having their shop ownership revoked,” one market leader said in an audio clip shared with traders.
Despite the government’s firm stance, concerns over safety persist. Prof. Awuzie Unachukwu, president of the Ala-Igbo Development Foundation, warned that sanctions could worsen insecurity and economic hardship in the Southeast. He urged visible security measures to reassure traders and residents before full reopening.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo spokesperson Alex Ogbonnia called for the end of the sit-at-home order, citing its decade-long disruption to the region’s economy. He said dialogue and political solutions were needed to address the Kanu issue, rather than market shutdowns.
Meanwhile, the Imo State Police confirmed heightened security to prevent unrest and encouraged residents to resume normal business activities despite IPOB threats.
As Monday approaches, traders and authorities in Anambra face a delicate balancing act between enforcing government directives and respecting the ongoing civil disobedience campaign.
