Ignore Sit-at-Home Order, It Is From Criminal Elements in Finland – IPOB

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has urged residents of Nigeria’s Southeast region to disregard a sit-at-home directive issued by an unknown group. In a statement released on Monday, IPOB clarified that the order did not come from their organization and should not be followed.

Recent audio and video messages circulating on social media have warned Southeast residents to stay off the streets, advising parents to keep children home from school and urging business owners to close their shops for two days, from Monday, October 21, to Tuesday, October 22. These messages included threats against those who refused to comply with the directive.

IPOB, however, has denounced the order, describing it as the work of criminal elements. The group’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, stated, “IPOB did not declare any sit-at-home order on October 21 and 22. The illegal order is from criminal elements and Finland-based infiltrators who are not our members.”

Powerful emphasized that IPOB had suspended all sit-at-home activities and urged residents to continue their daily routines without fear. “Biafrans must understand that IPOB does not declare unnecessary sit-at-home. Anybody declaring it is a criminal element that should be ignored,” he said.

IPOB’s leadership reiterated that the group does not endorse actions that disrupt the region’s peace and economy, calling for calm and the continuation of normal activities.