IPOB Warns Soludo: ‘You’re Declaring War On Our Dignity

According to reports, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has issued a stern warning to Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, urging him to refrain from intimidating citizens participating in the Monday sit-at-home protest. The group described the protest as a peaceful and legal expression of solidarity with detained leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful emphasized that any attempt to establish task forces or enforcement units to compel citizens to open businesses would constitute provocation and oppression. “Anambra is not a military barracks. Citizens are not tenants in their own land. No governor has the authority to force free citizens to act against their will, especially during a peaceful, non-violent demonstration,” the statement read.

The group further asserted that civil disobedience is a fundamental democratic right. “If businessmen, traders, students, professionals, elders, and youths voluntarily choose to stay home on Mondays to protest the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, that is their right. It is not a crime or an act of rebellion,” Powerful added.

IPOB criticized Governor Soludo for prioritizing loyalty to federal authorities over addressing the grievances of his people, stating that harassment and coercion would amount to a direct attack on the dignity of the Igbo people. The statement warned that any form of intimidation, arrests, or enforcement to force citizens into compliance would cross a “red line” and be considered provocation.

The group concluded by urging Governor Soludo to focus on his governance mandate—security, infrastructure, jobs, and development—rather than coercion. IPOB stressed that the Monday sit-at-home would continue as a voluntary expression of conscience until the perceived injustice surrounding Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s detention is resolved.