By PAMELA EBOH, Awka
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has declared Tuesday, September 13, 2022 a sit-at-home day in Biafra land.
The group in a statement on Saturday by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, gave two reasons for the sit-at-home: The hearing of its leader Nnamdi Kanu’s case earlier scheduled for October 11 and brought forward to September 13, and President Buhari’s scheduled visit to Imo State on that day.
It also called for the closure of all markets, schools, banks, businesses and companies including police stations in Biafra Land.
The statement reads in part: “As usual, we call on Biafrans and lovers of freedom to demonstrate our solidarity with our leader who is bearing our yoke in detention for over a year now. IPOB never issued new directives to Biafrans, but is simply implementing an existing order to lock down Biafra Land any day the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra will appear in court at Abuja.
“It was based on such agreement with our leader that informed the suspension of the initial Mondays sit-at-home declared by IPOB leadership in August of 2021. It is imperative that our people understand this and go about their daily work and businesses on Monday and get prepared for Tuesday the 13th of September 2022 because Biafraland will be locked down completely.
“Secondly, it has come to the knowledge of the leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra that the Imo state Governor, Hope Uzodinma has decided to insult the memories of our gallant men and women and of the youths of Imo State that he has been murdering in collaboration with the Nigerian terrorists in Army, police and DSS uniform by inviting President Muhammadu Buhari to Owerri the Imo state capital Tuesday the 13th of September 2022 the very same day the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will be appearing in Court.”
While described it as an insult upon the land of Biafra and the people of Biafra, IPOB insisted that there will be a total lockdown of the entire southeast on Tuesday.
It added that “Buhari cannot be coming to Imo State while he continues to detain our leader Mazi Nnamdi in the DSS custody.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu must be released unconditionally because he committed no crime known to law. We must warn women group, the clergy men and women, Traditional Rulers, PGs and others who may be contemplating going to Owerri on Tuesday the 13th of September to join in this dance of shame being planned by Imo State governor to advise themselves properly or be ready to contend with the Spirit of our ancestors, our Heroes and Heroines and the Spirit that own and guard Biafraland.”