{"id":125371,"date":"2026-02-03T19:10:40","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T18:10:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=125371"},"modified":"2026-02-03T19:10:40","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T18:10:40","slug":"south-east-defies-ipob-order-as-businesses-resume","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/south-east-defies-ipob-order-as-businesses-resume\/","title":{"rendered":"South-East Defies IPOB Order as Businesses Resume\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">By Tracy Moses<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Monday sit-at-home order issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) largely failed across the South-East on Monday, as markets, schools, and businesses operated almost normally in Ebonyi, Abia, Enugu, and Anambra states.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Traders at the Onitsha Main Market in Anambra State resumed business after a one-week shutdown enforced by Governor Chukwuma Soludo, signaling a decisive break from previous Mondays when shops remained closed in deference to sit-at-home directives.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The controversy has its roots in the region\u2019s long history of Monday sit-at-home orders linked to IPOB, a separatist movement advocating self-determination for the Igbo people. Such directives have historically targeted markets, businesses, schools, and public offices, often in solidarity with Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB\u2019s detained leader, or to protest government actions.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The February 2, 2026, order was announced ostensibly to support Onitsha Main Market traders after the state-mandated closure. However, the Head of IPOB\u2019s Directorate of State, Chukwukadia Edoziem, later disowned the directive, describing it as \u201cmisleading and unauthorized,\u201d even as IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful lauded compliance across the region, excluding Onitsha.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Monday, traders reopened shops across major lines, including Fashion Line, Children\u2019s Wear Line, Accessories Line, Lagos Line, Ado Line, Mandela Line, and Emeka Offor Plaza. By mid-morning, trading had resumed in more than 70 percent of shops, a stark departure from the near-empty markets seen in previous Mondays.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Governor Soludo personally visited the market, walking through high-traffic areas such as Ose Market, Bright Street, and Emeka Offor Plaza. Accompanied by senior officials and security operatives, he interacted with traders and purchased goods, sending a clear signal that the fear associated with the sit-at-home had waned.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cNdi Anambra are taking back their day, their economy, and their future. Today marks an end to the sit-at-home,\u201d Soludo said. \u201cI am satisfied with the large turnout of traders at the Onitsha Main Market today. It is impressive the number of people who have come to make purchases.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While the Onitsha Main Market recorded high turnout, adjoining markets such as Ochanja and Relief Market were less busy, with many shops remaining closed.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Soludo also issued a 14-day ultimatum for the removal of illegal structures within the market, affecting over 10,000 shops, prompting concerns among traders about potential displacement.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cWe opened today, but business is not yet like other days,\u201d said Uzochukwu Okoye, a clothing trader. \u201cThe 14-day notice is too short. We are begging the governor to give us more time and also ensure banks and transport operators fully resume on Mondays.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Godwin Uche, another trader, expressed concern for affected families: \u201cIf this demolition happens without proper relocation plans, over 50,000 families could be displaced. We are asking for dialogue before drastic measures are taken.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Despite these concerns, some traders welcomed the heavy security presence in the market.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cThe police and other security operatives are ensuring peace. We feel safer and can trade without fear,\u201d said Chinonso Eze, a trader in Emeka Offor Plaza. Across the South-East, the sit-at-home order had minimal impact in Ebonyi State, where markets, schools, and public offices functioned normally. In Abia State, the order was partially observed, with markets in Aba, including Ariaria and New Market, opening, while some traders stayed away.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Enugu State, intracity movements continued, but inter-state transport along the Enugu-Onitsha and Abuja-Enugu-Onitsha routes was affected, with some private schools dismissing students early.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Responding to the contrasting claims of compliance, IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful said, \u201cThe sit-at-home demonstrates continued support for Nnamdi Kanu and our cause, except in Onitsha, where some traders failed to comply. Nevertheless, our people are showing resilience and solidarity.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Security agencies and state governments, meanwhile, assured residents that they were free to carry on with lawful activities. SP Tochukwu Ikenga, Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, stated: \u201cWe are committed to ensuring the safety of traders and residents. Nobody should be intimidated from conducting lawful business.\u201d<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Monday\u2019s events reflect a growing willingness among South-East residents to reclaim economic agency, even amid the complex tensions between grassroots activism and state authority. For many traders, business continuity appears to be taking precedence over directives from non-state actors.<\/div>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Related Posts generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Tracy Moses The Monday sit-at-home order issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) largely failed across the South-East on Monday, as markets, schools, and businesses operated almost normally&hellip;<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on wp_trim_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on wp_trim_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Related Posts generic via filter on wp_trim_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":108598,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-125371","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.8 - 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