IPOB asks south-east governors to ‘deal decisively’ with enforcers of sit-at-home order

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has asked south-east governors to deal with anyone caught enforcing the suspended sit-at-home order.

Since IPOB suspended the directive in September 2021, there have been incidents of forceful, sometimes violent, enforcement by suspected thugs.

On Monday, suspected hoodlums said to be enforcing the sit-at-home order set a vehicle on fire in Ekwulobia, Aguata LGA of Anambra, while a similar incident of forceful enforcement reportedly took place in Enugu state.

Reacting to the development, IPOB said governors should “deal decisively” with those found enforcing the suspended directive.

The outlawed separatist group said members of its Eastern Security Network (ESN) will be dispatched to “go after” the culprits.

“We have severally explained that IPOB has not authorized anybody to enforce Monday sit-at-home which has been suspended since September 19, 2021. Anybody unleashing sorrow on innocent citizens under the guise of enforcing sit-at-home order is a criminal and does not deserve pity,” Emma Powerful, IPOB spokesperson, said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Despite the suspension of Monday sit-at-home since 19th of September 2021, some unscrupulous elements and criminals conniving with security agencies and our enemies have continued to inflict pain on our people. Their aim is to blackmail IPOB but they will continue to fail.

“Now, we want to inform our people to stand firm in the fight for their liberty. IPOB did not ask anybody to enforce sit-at-home of any kind. Henceforth, ESN operatives will come from the bushes and forests and go after these criminals unleashing mayhem on innocent people and visitors to Biafra land in the name of enforcing non-existent Monday sit-at-home order.

“We also ask Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, to also deal decisively with any hoodlum using Monday sit-at-home to torture innocent citizens/residents of the state. No genuine member of IPOB or ESN operative is involved in any enforcement of Monday sit-at-home order. Anybody doing so is working against Biafra restoration.”

IPOB said it is a non-violent organisation and will “never accept” criminals.