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.
Similarly, the Nigeria Police Force has vowed to resist the sit-at-home order in any part of the South-East.
The Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed that the police have taken action against non-state actors enforcing the order, resulting in arrests and the confiscation of weapons.
Adejobi assured South-East citizens that adequate security measures had been put in place to protect them and urged them to continue with their lawful activities.
His statement came on the heels of the self-acclaimed Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa that there would be a lockdown of the South East for two weeks from July 31, 2023.
Addressing reporters at the state police headquarters, Adeoye described as unfortunate, a situation whereby people now work for four days a week, but get a salary for five days.
He said: “From the point of law enforcement, sitting at home is an illegal affair. Those making the declaration for the sit-at-home belong to an organization that competent courts have described as illegal.
“Our duty as security agencies is to provide adequate security for the people to the best of our ability. But it is the people who have the prerogative to decide whether to sit at home or not.
” We cannot enter anybody’s house to drag him out because if we do that, we will be infringing on the person’s fundamental human rights since he has freedom of choice.
“Despite the action of security operatives, some people support the sit-at-home, which is rooted in the agitation for a separatist enclave called Biafra. “Those who work for four days see Mondays as an extra holiday. As long as we can protect those doing their businesses, we have no business with those who prefer to sit at home.”
Adeoye vowed that under his watch, Anambra would be a hot place for criminals, adding that the command would collaborate with other states in the South East to secure the zone.
Obi laments impact on S-East businesses, blames criminals
According to the Labour Party Presidential standard bearer, what is going on in the South-East is essentially a criminal activity.
“Also disturbing is the continued disruption of business and social activities in the South East region over the Sit-at-Home directive purported to be coming from the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, when the body has publicly denied issuing such directive.
“What is going on in the South East therefore is essentially a criminal activity that must be nipped in the bud, with all hands being on deck, security agencies, and the people alike,” Obi said in a series of tweets on his Twitter handle on Thursday.
While commending the governors from the region, he said the states’ helmsmen need to be more strategic and intelligence-driven.
He said, “The South East Governors are to be commended for their renewed efforts at curbing this menace but there is a need to be more strategic and intelligence-driven in our approach to reducing the suffering of innocent people.
“Security agencies should take necessary and quick steps to arrest the ugly incidents because the country cannot just be spilling the blood of innocent citizens. We as a people through our various governments should up our value for human lives in the way and manner we respond to issues that touch lives. The implications of an insecure environment for development are far-reaching because no investor will consider going to an area where their resources will not be safe and secure.
“Therefore, I will like to urge critical stakeholders in these areas, traditional, Christian, and Muslim leaders to continue pushing for peace among their people in the way and manner they conduct themselves.
“The various governments at all levels should also take deliberate steps to address the issue of poverty and youth unemployment because the provision of stomach infrastructure is the surer way to tackle insecurity.
“Also, urgent steps should be taken consciously and intentionally to ameliorate the hardship of the people.”
Reacting to the Peter Obi’s statement on the sit-at-home directive in the south-east, Simon Ekpa in a terse tweet, Ekpa said the former governor of Anambra has now become the spokesperson of the separatist group.
Also reacting to the Army’s decision to neutralize sit-at-home enforcers, on his tweeter handle, said: If you come to Biafra land to kill Biafrans, I promise you will die there. Biafra Liberation Army will neutralise you. We have activated the operation python must die. All of you terrorists, @HQNigerianArmy going to Biafra land should write your will before leaving from your location.”
