Manny Ita
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has declared a total lockdown across Nigeria’s South-East region for Monday, February 2, 2026, in response to Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s decision to close and remodel the Onitsha Main Market. The escalating standoff began after Governor Soludo visited the market earlier this week and found it deserted due to the recurring Monday “sit-at-home” protests. Expressing frustration over the economic impact of the weekly shutdowns, Soludo asserted that the market has “literally died” as a result of years of poor planning and forced closures. He subsequently ordered the market sealed for a week, warning that further defiance could lead to month-long closures or the permanent revocation of shop allocations.
In a statement released on Friday, IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful countered the Governor’s directive by calling for a “solidarity strike” across Anambra, Abia, Imo, Enugu, and Ebonyi states. The group characterized the state government’s actions as “economic warfare” and an “attack on the livelihoods of traders.” IPOB maintained that the lockdown is a necessary response to what they described as a tyrannical approach by the state administration. “The First Amendment of the Constitution protects that work for me and for countless other journalists who do what I do,” a representative noted in a related context of civil liberties, though the group specifically framed this regional action as a “voluntary expression of outrage” against the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu and the Governor’s recent sanctions.
The economic implications of the conflict remain a central point of contention, with Governor Soludo reporting that the regional economy loses an estimated ₦8 billion every Monday. Despite the Governor’s promise of increased security to protect those who choose to conduct business, the IPOB mandate calls for the total closure of banks, schools, and transportation hubs. Market leaders remain divided, with some supporting the Governor’s intent to “restore the market’s glory” through remodeling, while others express fear of retaliation from non-state actors if they defy the lockdown order. Security agencies in the South-East have reportedly been placed on high alert to monitor the situation as the Monday deadline approaches.
