The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has announced a sit-at-home across the South-East on Monday, February 2, 2026, in what it described as a show of solidarity with traders at the Onitsha Main Market.

The affected states include Anambra, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi and Imo.

The declaration follows the decision of the Anambra State Government to shut down the Onitsha Main Market for one week. Governor Chukwuma Soludo ordered the closure on Monday, citing the continued observance of sit-at-home in the state since July 2021, which he said was harming economic activities. The governor also warned against further compliance with the weekly action.

Traders at the market, however, said the sit-at-home was being observed in solidarity with the detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who is currently facing trial over charges linked to separatist activities.

In a statement issued on Friday, IPOB criticised the market closure, accusing the state government of targeting traders for supporting the sit-at-home. The group announced what it called a “Biafra-wide solidarity strike,” urging residents of the South-East and other Biafran areas to suspend economic activities on February 2.

IPOB said the sit-at-home was a voluntary action by residents and not enforced by the group. It described the closure of the market as a threat to the livelihoods of traders and called on supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding during the protest.

The group also renewed its call for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, accusing the Anambra State Government of escalating tensions through what it termed economic pressure on traders.

As of the time of filing this report, the Anambra State Government had not reacted to IPOB’s latest announcement.