The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has officially and permanently terminated its long-standing Monday sit-at-home order across the South-East region, effective from Monday, February 9th, 2026.
According to the statement released by the IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, the decision was attributed directly to Nnamdi Kanu, the group’s convicted leader serving life–term imprisonment in Sokoto Correctional Center.
The statement stressed that Kanu put everything at his disposal to ensure Monday businesses do not suffer disruption anymore, maintaining children should return to school, with residents resuming businesses without fear, intimidation, or molestation.
Meanwhile, the group has encouraged residents to resume their usual activities on Monday, including opening of markets, schools, offices, transport, and economic activities — pledging to confront such actors decisively.
Years of Irreparable Lost
Recall that IPOB introduced the weekly shutdown in August 2021 to demand Kanu’s rendition to Nigeria and ongoing detention, severely leading to interruptions of daily life with closures of markets, schools, banks, and offices.
For about five years, the illegal order has left traces of ruins and economic disadvantages due to the fierce violence and the imposition of constant curfews on the southeastern region of the country.
As nobody is ready to risk their lives, the fear of trepidation and guns always keeps residents in their home every Monday.
Such is the predicament of Chinedu Uchenna, a resident of Enugu who survives on selling women’s hair in Ogbete Main Market, Enugu State.
“The curfew affects us in every way; our business, our movement. Things are not going well at all,” Uchenna said.
According to Cynthia Uju, another victim of IPOB–backed illegal order, bears a similar burden faced by thousands of residents of the South East region of Nigeria.
“There’s this kind of money we normally make on Monday and it’s hard for us to earn it on other days. But ever since the order of sit-at-home started, our Monday has been taken away from us. And so the benefits of the day.”
Beyond economic tolls lie a deepened crisis. While nothing less than 700 lives directly linked to have been consumed by the imposition of the sit–at–home directives, N7.6 trillion was lost in economic revenue — a report by SBM revealed.
Life After Death
The recent development follows heightened measures from the government to fight the Monday menace.
Recall that Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has earlier issued directives to prohibit the long–standing practice among residents. As the state recorded low compliance, the government of Anambra shut down Onitsha Main Market, together with nearby markets, after visitation to those markets by authorities showed people still continue to pay obedience to directives sanctioned by non–state actors.
While the recent announcement urged vigilance against false-flag attacks or intimidation by opponents, the group condemned governors’ rights to demolish or shut traders’ businesses without consent.
IPOB has encouraged residents to operate fearlessly tomorrow, signaling the end of an era that paralysed South-East economic and social activities.