Separatist group the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has called for a total “lockdown” across south-eastern Nigeria this coming Monday, escalating a bitter stand-off with the Anambra State government.
The group said the “solidarity strike” on 2 February is a direct response to Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s decision to shut down the famous Onitsha Main Market for one week.
Governor Soludo ordered the market closure on Monday, arguing that traders were crippling the local economy by continuing to observe a weekly “sit-at-home” protest that has plagued the region since 2021.
A ‘Biafra-wide’ strike
In a statement released on Friday, IPOB accused the Governor of working with “collaborators” in the capital, Abuja, to punish Igbo traders.
The group has called on residents in the five South-east states—Anambra, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, and Imo—to stay indoors and shut all businesses.
“This action is a direct response to the closure of the Onitsha Main Market and threats of further punitive measures against traders,” the group said. They maintained that the weekly protests are a “voluntary” act of support for their detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
The Economic Tug-of-War
The conflict highlights the impossible position many residents find themselves in:
- The Government View: Governor Soludo insists the state cannot develop if its most productive day of the week is lost to a “ghost town” protest.
- The Protesters’ View: IPOB and many traders argue the shutdown is the only way to pressure the federal government into releasing Mr Kanu, who is facing trial for terrorism and treason-related charges.
The Onitsha Main Market is one of Africa’s largest commercial hubs. Closing it for a week represents a loss of billions of naira, hitting the livelihoods of thousands of ordinary Nigerians.
‘Economic Intimidation’
IPOB described the government’s move as “economic intimidation,” while the state government has previously warned that it will not allow “non-state actors” to dictate when people go to work.
Security forces are expected to be on high alert across the region on Monday. Despite IPOB’s call for a “peaceful” strike, previous sit-at-home days have been marred by violence, with “enforcers” often attacking those who dare to open their shops or drive on the highways.
Analysis: A test of wills
By Segun Ojumu, Abuja
This is a high-stakes gamble for both sides. Governor Soludo is trying to break the cycle of fear that has gripped the South-east for nearly five years by showing that the state can be even tougher than the separatists.
However, by closing the market, he may be inadvertently pushing neutral traders into the arms of IPOB. For the residents of the South-east, Monday will be another day of empty streets and lost income, as they wait to see whose authority carries more weight: the elected Governor or the invisible enforcers of the sit-at-home.
The Anambra State Government is expected to issue a formal security directive ahead of Monday.
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