Chief Of Army Staff Orders Clampdown On Sit-At-Home Enforcers In South East

The Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja has directed troops of the Nigerian Army to assert control over regions where Simon Ekpa, a self-acclaimed disciple of Nnamdi Kanu, detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, imposed a sit-at-home order in the South-East.

He spoke as the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Adeoye assured yesterday that the state police command would continue to provide security in Anambra for people who want to go about their businesses without hindrance, stressing that the police have no business with people who prefer to sit at home when they are supposed to be working to earn their living.

This is even as the Labour Party presidential candidate during February 25 presidential election, Peter Obi, has described the insecurity in the South East region as ‘criminal activity’.

He said though the activities were being attributed to the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, the proscribed group has constantly distanced itself from the crimes.

Lagbaja’s directive was in response to an announcement made by Finland-based pro-Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa, who ordered a two-week sit-at-home protest scheduled to commence on Monday, July 31.

Ekpa said the protest’s aim to demand the immediate and unconditional release of the IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, was sacrosanct, noting that the sit-at-home order was to facilitate the freedom of the Biafran nation, among other objectives.

The pro-Biafra agitator, however, warned that disobeying the sit-at-home order would have serious consequences.

The Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu however declared Ekpa’s announcement unlawful and stated that it would not be tolerated.

Nwachukwu said that the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other security agencies, has been directed to conduct robust patrols, secure flashpoints, and ensure that citizens can freely carry out their lawful activities.

“The renewed threat by IPOB to compel the people in southeast Nigeria to sit at home is not only appalling but a violation of the fundamental rights of southeastern Nigerians and, therefore, unlawful. This will never be condoned,” Nwachukwu stated.

“The Chief of Army Staff has handed down clear directives to the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army operating in synergy with other security agencies to ensure robust patrols to dominate all flashpoints and emplace measures to ensure citizens are free to go about their legitimate businesses.”

The army spokesperson, however, called upon Nigerians in the South-East region to disregard the sit-at-home order and encouraged them to support the security forces in their efforts to counter IPOB.

“We implore the good and enterprising people of the South-East to shun all forms of cajoling or threats aimed at unlawfully compelling them to be reclusive by sitting at home. We urge them to join forces with the security operatives to resist this illegality perpetrated by IPOB.

“Similarly, the police have vowed to resist the sit-at-home order in any part of the South-East.”

He noted that Ekpa, who claims leadership of IPOB, resides in Finland and issues command from there while expecting people in Nigeria to comply with his orders, which the army finds unacceptable.