ENUGU – The tension between the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and South-East governors has reached a breaking point, with the group declaring a total “solidarity lockdown” across the region for Monday, February 2, 2026.
In a statement issued by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB described the move as a direct response to Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s closure of the Onitsha Main Market. The group slammed the Governor’s action as “economic warfare” against traders and warned that the South-East would remain a “ghost town” until the government stops its punitive measures.
The lockdown order explicitly demands that all banks, schools, markets, and transport services across the five Eastern states remain shut. Beyond the market dispute, IPOB reiterated its core demand for the immediate and unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who is currently serving a life sentence.
Soludo’s Economic Hardline
Governor Soludo has remained resolute, previously characterizing the recurring Monday sit-at-home as “economic sabotage” that drains billions from the Anambra economy. Following protests by Onitsha traders, the Governor offered a “rebuild or reopen” ultimatum, insisting that the era of non-state actors dictating economic life in the state is over.
However, IPOB has dared the Governor to use force, warning that any attempt by government-backed vigilantes to coerce shops to open on Monday will be met with “stiff resistance.”
Regional Anxiety Mounts
The declaration has sent shockwaves through the region, with many residents fearing a return to the violent enforcement seen in previous years. Despite the Anambra State Government’s assurance of security, business owners in Aba, Owerri, and Enugu are reportedly making plans to stay indoors to avoid being caught in the crossfire.
“We are trapped between a government that punishes us for closing and a group that threatens us for opening,” a trader in Onitsha lamented.
As Monday approaches, the South-East braces for a major test of authority between the constitutional power of the governors and the influential grip of the separatist movement.
Will the South-East governors deploy a joint security task force to break the February 2 lockdown, or will the “solidarity strike” once again paralyse the region?
