“No Government Will Force People to Go Out”: IPOB Warns Soludo Against Punishing Monday Sit-at-Home Participants

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has warned Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Charles Soludo, against penalising residents who observe the Monday sit-at-home in the state, describing the action as a peaceful and voluntary form of protest.

In a statement issued on Sunday, IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, criticised reported threats by the state government to sanction citizens who remain indoors on Mondays in solidarity with the group’s detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

IPOB said the sit-at-home is a civil protest rooted in personal choice and does not amount to criminal conduct. The group urged the governor to respect what it described as the democratic right of residents to express dissent through non-violent means.

The warning follows the Anambra State Government’s recent decision to abolish the Monday sit-at-home. An executive directive issued to schools in the state mandates compulsory opening on Mondays and introduces salary penalties for staff who fail to comply.

According to an official letter dated January 22, 2026, and signed by the Secretary of the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Loveline Mgbemena, teachers and non-teaching staff who do not report to work on Mondays risk losing 20 per cent of their salary or forfeiting it entirely.

Reacting to the directive, IPOB argued that remaining at home as a form of protest does not constitute rebellion or misconduct. The group said any attempt to criminalise peaceful protest undermines citizens’ dignity and democratic rights.

IPOB also accused the governor of targeting residents instead of addressing the grievances that fuel unrest in the region. It warned against the use of task forces or enforcement units to compel compliance, saying such actions would amount to intimidation rather than governance.

The group maintained that it does not coerce residents to observe the sit-at-home, stressing that participation is voluntary. However, it insisted that the government also has no right to force citizens to go about their activities against their will.

IPOB concluded by calling on the Anambra State Government to prioritise dialogue and justice, reiterating its demand for the release of Nnamdi Kanu. According to the group, the continued detention of its leader remains the core issue behind the Monday sit-at-home observed across parts of the South-East.