The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has denied reports that it plans to resume enforcement of the Monday sit at home order across the South-East, describing a purported police intelligence report linking the group to the alleged plan as false.
In a statement issued on Monday, October 12, 2026, IPOB’s spokesperson and Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said the organisation had no intention of compelling residents to suspend commercial, educational, or social activities on Mondays.
The group’s reaction followed the circulation of a document dated October 9, 2026, which reportedly claimed that IPOB and its security wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), planned to resume enforcement of the sit at home order from October 12.
Powerful dismissed the document as a fabrication and accused the Nigeria Police Force of circulating misleading information. However, the statement did not independently establish who produced the disputed document, and the police had yet to respond to the allegations in the account provided.
IPOB also denied issuing any fresh directive restricting movement across the region, insisting that neither its leadership nor its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu, had ordered residents to stay indoors on Mondays.
“There is no voice note. There is no order from IPOB or ESN to resume any sit-at-home,” the statement said.
The organisation maintained that its campaign for Biafran self-determination was not aimed at enforcing restrictions on residents and accused unnamed individuals of attempting to create fear and confusion in the region.
It further alleged that the purported report and an anonymous voice note circulating online were intended to mislead residents and business owners. These allegations were not independently verified.
The group also linked the development to what it described as attempts to divert public attention from comments attributed to Kanu at the AVID Convention. It called on the authorities to provide verifiable evidence supporting the claims, including the original document, the source of the alleged voice note, and any evidence connecting the material to IPOB or ESN.
IPOB urged the Federal Government to focus on the challenges confronting residents, including insecurity, unemployment, and economic hardship. It also renewed its criticism of Kanu’s continued detention.
The Monday sit at home order has remained a contentious issue across the South-East, with previous enforcement disrupting businesses, transport services, schools, and other economic activities.
Although IPOB has previously announced the cancellation of the order, concerns about possible enforcement and security threats have continued to affect decisions by some residents and business operators about opening their establishments.
The latest development has renewed questions about the authenticity of the purported intelligence report and the source of the alleged voice note.
As of the information available in the statement, the police had not publicly responded to IPOB’s allegations. The origin of the disputed document and the claim of a planned resumption of sit at home enforcement therefore remain unverified.
By Enitan Mudashiru | MUK TV News
