Nigerian Army Ordered to Seize Control of IPOB Strongholds During Sit-at-Home Order in South-East States
The Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has given orders for troops to take control of areas where the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) enforce their sit-at-home order throughout the South-East states.
This directive comes on the heels of a Finland-based pro-Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa, announcing a two-week sit-at-home period in the South-East region starting from July 31. Ekpa stated that the order was to demand the immediate and unconditional release of detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, as well as to work towards the freedom of the Biafra nation.
Ekpa warned of severe consequences for those who fail to comply with the sit-at-home order.
Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, denounced Ekpa’s announcement as unlawful and stated that it would not be tolerated. He confirmed that the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, along with other security agencies, has been instructed to ensure that citizens can freely go about their businesses.
“The renewed threat by IPOB to compel the people in southeastern Nigeria to sit at home is not only appalling but a violation of the fundamental rights of southeastern Nigerians and, therefore, unlawful. This will never be condoned,” said Onyema.
He called upon Nigerians in the South-East region to ignore the sit-at-home order and urged them to support the security forces in their efforts to defeat IPOB.
The police also pledged to resist the sit-at-home order throughout the South-East. Muyiwa Adejobi, the Force spokesperson, revealed that the police have already taken actions against non-state actors enforcing the order, including arrests and fatalities. He emphasized that the force is determined to maintain law and order in the region.
“We identified insecurity as one of those inhibitors; we felt that it was a clog in the wheel of our continued development, and that was why, immediately after I assumed office, I convened a Security Council meeting, and following that, we made a pronouncement that we wanted the sit-at-home to end. This is because we have zero tolerance for that,” Adejobi explained.
He expressed hope for collaboration with the Navy to enhance security in Enugu State and uphold national unity.
The stance remains clear amongst security agencies that the sit-at-home order will not be endorsed, and efforts will be made to ensure peace, security, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
By Solomon Odeniyi and Edward Nnachi