The South-East should stay at home on Tuesday, September 13, according to the Indigenous People of Biafra.
The command, according to the pro-Biafran group, was issued in support of Nnamdi Kanu, their incarcerated leader, who will be appearing in court on that day.
They insisted on a complete lockdown of the five South-East Asian states due to Kanu's court appearance and President Muhammadu Buhari's visit to Owerri, Imo State.
The group's Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, stated in a statement on Saturday that IPOB is merely carrying out a previous command to lock down Biafraland on any day that its leader will appear in court in Abuja.
The statement read in part, “The global family and movement of the IPOB wish to announce to the general public, especially Biafrans that Tuesday, September 13, has been declared a day of civil action in the form of Sit-At-Home in Biafraland.
“Tuesday’s civil action is very important for two reasons: First, our leader’s Appeal court hearing that was supposed to be on October 11 has been brought forward to September 13, 2022.
“As usual, we call on Biafrans and lovers of freedom to demonstrate our solidarity with our leader who is bearing our yoke in detention for over a year now.
“IPOB never issued a new directive to Biafrans but is simply implementing an existing order to lock down Biafraland any day our leader will appear in court at Abuja.
“It was based on such agreement with our leader that informed the suspension of the initial Mondays sit-at-home declared by IPOB leadership in August of 2021.
“It is imperative that our people understand this and go about their daily work and businesses on Monday and get prepared for Tuesday, September 13, 2022, because Biafraland will be locked down completely.
“Secondly, it has come to our knowledge that the Imo State Government has decided to invite President Muhammadu Buhari to Owerri the Imo state capital Tuesday the 13th of September 2022 the very same day the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, will be appearing in Court.
“There shall be a total lockdown of the whole of Biafraland on Tuesday the 13th of September 2022. The Imposter Buhari cannot be coming to Imo State while he continues to detain our leader Mazi Nnamdi in the DSS custody.
“Kanu must be released unconditionally because he committed no crime known to law. We must warn women groups, the clergymen and women, traditional rulers, president-generals and others who may be contemplating going to Owerri on Tuesday to welcome Buhari.
“If you are in support of Buhari detaining our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, then go to Owerri on Tuesday the 13th day of September and welcome the President.
“We, therefore, expect all markets, schools, banks, businesses and companies including police stations in Biafra Land to be under lock and key on Tuesday, September 13, 2022, in solidarity with our Leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“IPOB members are peaceful. We don’t enforce sit-at-home. Nevertheless, we wouldn’t tolerate people flouting IPOB leadership directives.
“Therefore, everyone in the Biafran territory must adhere to this civil action in the form of sit-at-home on Tuesday. Biafrans are not known to be cowards because we stand without fear before our enemies.”