₦airaland Forum

A human rights lawyer and lead counsel for the Indigenous People of Biafra, Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has urged South-East residents to completely ignore what he described as a “fraudulent” sit-at-home order allegedly scheduled for Monday, February 2, 2026, by a faction of the group.

Recall that the pro-Biafran group, through its spokesman Emma Powerful, had directed a sit-at-home on February 2 across the region in solidarity with traders at the Onitsha Main Market.

Powerful said the total shutdown in Biafraland is a direct, peaceful, and unified response to the actions of Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, who ordered the closure of the Onitsha Main Market for one week.

But in a counter statement released on Saturday, Ejiofor said the source behind the directive, operating under the guise of “Emma Powerful,” has been compromised and is acting against the collective interest of Ndi-Igbo.

He insisted that IPOB has formally and decisively distanced itself from the false sit-at-home order and directed Ndi-Igbo to go about their lawful activities without fear.

The statement read in part: “Once again, the well-worn theatre of misinformation has opened its curtains, this time with a particularly lazy script and an insultingly predictable cast.

“Late yesterday, a report was widely circulated alleging that a total lockdown of Ala-Igbo had been ordered under the guise of a sit-at-home directive purportedly issued by ‘Emma Powerful,’ slated for Monday, February 2, 2026.

“Let it be stated clearly, unequivocally, and without ambiguity: this directive is fake, a phantom, a calculated falsehood.

“Upon careful inquiry and diligent verification, especially considering the delicate and hard-won calm presently returning to our homeland, it became glaringly obvious that the so-called ‘Emma Powerful’ platform has been fatally compromised.

“It has been hijacked by vested interests whose business model thrives on fear, disruption, extortion, and the cynical exploitation of vulnerable communities.

“The peaceful global movement of the IPOB has formally and decisively disowned this fabricated publication, categorically distancing itself from the false sit-at-home order and directing Ndi-Igbo to go about their lawful and normal activities without fear.

“Going forward, the message from IPOB is unmistakable: any publication attributed to ‘Emma Powerful’ should be treated with extreme suspicion, if not outright contempt.

“Frankly, one cannot but express astonishment, bordering on disbelief, that at such a critical juncture, when relative peace is cautiously resurfacing in Ala-Igbo, anyone would recklessly circulate information capable of reopening wounds and inviting criminal infiltration.

“History has taught us, at unbearable cost, what happens when fake directives fall into the hands of violent opportunists masquerading as enforcers.

“It is therefore no longer sufficient to merely advise our people to ‘ignore’ publications from this source. The time has come for greater clarity and firmness. The platform known as ‘Emma Powerful,’ in its current corrupted state, has positioned itself as an adversary to Ala-Igbo’s peace, progress, and collective well-being.”

According to Ejiofor, the peaceful global movement must go further by publicly and definitively explaining why this source has become unreliable, compromised, and hostile to the collective interest of Ndi-Igbo. Silence, ambiguity, or polite distancing, he said, only leaves room for further abuse.

“A masquerade that dances with fire should not be mistaken for a messenger of truth,” the statement concluded.

Source: https://punchng.com/ignore-february-2-sit-at-home-order-ipob-lawyer-urges-south-east-residents

But according to peter obi and oby ezekwesili, they must sit at home in south east

The Igbo's in general shouldn't play politics or being emotional about this issue. It's not something that supposed to be taking time before it's resolved.

Find lasting solution to the sit at home not just in Anambra state but other South East states

We shall "sit at home" come next Monday,,, it's our collective duty to keep the injustice of kanu's continued incarceration alive ,, victory will be ours,,,no matter how pyrrhic.

helinues:
The Igbo's in general shouldn't play politics or being emotional about this issue. It's not something that supposed to be taking time before it's resolved.

Find lasting solution to the sit at home not just in Anambra state but other South East states

naira land Igbo lover has spoken,

yarimo:
But according to peter obi and oby ezekwesili, they must sit at home in south east

I thought you people claimed that the yoruba president has stopped sit at home in SE.That it is part of his achievement. People who hardly leave thr shit H will be posting balablu

tinubu is hellbent in creating crisis in SE but just like buhari he will fail.

May they find solutions to there headache.

adenigga:
Source: https://punchng.com/ignore-february-2-sit-at-home-order-ipob-lawyer-urges-south-east-residents

So which order shall the South Easterners Obey?

Nawa..sit-at home on Mondays In 2026

If them like lat them obey.

Soludo go dash them extra 2 weeks..

I never understood the economic or political sense in this sit-at-home thing, I still don’t.

At this point, peace and normalcy should be the priority...

Any action that shuts down businesses and puts fear in people only hurts the same communities it claims to protect....

It’s good to see clear clarification so people can go about their lives without confusion or panic. Dialogue and lawful engagement will always achieve more than disruption, Sit at home is not the best way, it's not even effective at all, it is now sounding like laziness and not devotion.

Obi and Oby will never lend their voice to happenings in their backyard. Na to dey poke their snout 🐽 into whatever happens elsewhere be their priority

How many spokesperson ipob get??

Na soludo I blame, no be by force..

Most times consultantion and dialogue better by force...

Na this thing I like the north about, the issue of kidnapping and banditry fit some, if them won make e need....

But right now, they are consulting and dialoguing.

But East, one governor, go won show say him be semi god

I think the South East should make Sunday and Monday their own weekend, instead of glorifying the sit-at-home shît.

I hereby declare Tue - Sat as work days in the South Eastern part of Nigeria.

Nonsense and Buratai. 😒

And this is precisely why IPOB must be completely disbanded. An organization that lacks coherency and organization.

This one say sit at home, that one say no sit at home.

Result = When the sit at home is being enforced by their violent criminals they will deny and say they have nothing to do with it or better still claim its the FG.

Tenses:
tinubu is hellbent in creating crisis in SE but just like buhari he will fail.

So, na Tinubu shut the shops or na him declare the sit-at-home?

Fake lawyer!

Everyone must sit at home.

Henceforth, Monday, Wednesday and Friday are sit at home days in South East until Mazi is released.

If people choose to take Monday as a resting day, it's nobody's business as long as them no come Ur house to beg U for food

yarimo:
But according to peter obi and oby ezekwesili, they must sit at home in south east

Why make senseless comments all the time?

helinues:
The Igbo's in general shouldn't play politics or being emotional about this issue. It's not something that supposed to be taking time before it's resolved.

Find lasting solution to the sit at home not just in Anambra state but other South East states

Don't cry more than the bereaved. First find the solution to Fulani herdsmen attack in Kwara and Sharia law in Oyo and Ekiti states

PDPdestroyer:
So, na Tinubu shut the shops or na him declare the sit-at-home?

Soludo no b Tinubu's stooge

Akwamkpuruamu:
If people choose to take Monday as a resting day, it's nobody's business as long as them no come Ur house to beg U for food

And if the government decide to close the markets, they can take their business elsewhere.

Phoen1X:
We shall "sit at home" come next Monday,,, it's our collective duty to keep the injustice of kanu's continued incarceration alive ,, victory will be ours,,,no matter how pyrrhic.

You and who will be sitting at home?
You'll be sitting at home all by yourself while people go about their businesses!

Tenses:
Soludo no b Tinubu's stooge

I see. So, why did you vote for him to go for 2nd term?

Emergency lovers of the Igbo nation are dropping funny comments.

Funny agents with funny ideologies supporting a funny president.

How these people bring themselves to this level needs to be studied.

Now they don't know what to do again
So sad.

In what capacity is he making the statement.

Punch Newspaper again. Are they covering their tracks with this latest announcement or perhaps association with IPOB?

Despite all the insults hurled at Soludo, it seems his hard stand have finally resolved this I'll of sit at home.