The planned sit-at-home ordered by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) scheduled for Monday has been suspended following the ongoing National Examination Council (NECO) Exam for junior secondary schools.
Kanunta Kanu, younger brother to the IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, in a statement, said new date for commencement of the sit-at-home order would be announced later.
However, the spokesman of IPOB, Emma Powerful has insisted that no going back on the sit-at-home order.
The pro Biafra group had ordered for sit-at-home would be observed every Monday throughout Igbo land, starting from August 9 in solidarity with its detained leader.
“IPOB has listened to pleas from well-meaning individuals and groups within and outside Biafra land that we consider the fate of our children who will be involved in the NECO Exam and based on that, we decided to shift grounds over the sit-at-home order.
“IPOB on its part, having realized the academic deprivation the already marginalized Biafra students who entered for this year’s NECO would suffer, decided to suspend the sit-at-home order to a later date, to allow the students take their exams.
“As a group fighting for the liberation of her people from oppression from her enemies, we realized that it would amount to assisting the said enemies to inflict more harm on our children if we do not suspend the sit-at-home order to allow Biafra students take their exams”.
While making it clear the sit-at-home order has not been cancelled but only suspended for the sake of Biafra students taking this year’s NECO Exam, the statement called on all IPOB global family members and Biafrans at large to await further directives in this regard.
Meanwhile Emma Powerful, in a statement on Sunday, reiterated the lock down which takes effect from Monday, August 9, 2021 would continue until its leader, Nnamdi Kanu was freed.
The statement reads: “We the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra IPOB led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu wish to remind all Biafrans and friends of Biafran that the Mondays sit-at-home order is sacrosanct.
“The entire Biafra land will be locked down every Monday from 6:00am to 6:00pm beginning from tomorrow, August 9, 2021until our leader, Nnamdi Kanu who was abducted in Kenya and brought back to Nigeria and locked up in DSS dungeon in clear violation of international laws is freed.
“Consequently, there will be no movement throughout Biafra land on Mondays until our leader who is suffering for our freedom is released. This protest is peaceful but firm. Everybody is advised to stay indoors in total compliance.
“All markets, schools, motor parks, airports, and public places in Biafra land should shut down from morning to evening every Monday.
” We understand the economic implications of this measure but we are constrained to take it so that the world will know that our Leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not alone in the struggle for Biafra autonomy.
“We want his immediate release and our total freedom, and cannot hesitate to pay any sacrifice needed to achieve this including locking down the entire Biafra land on Mondays.
“All residents and visitors in Biafra land are advised to comply with the order. Nobody should go out to avoid any clash or intimidation by the wicked Nigeria security agents.”
