The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has described the Monday sit-at-home in the South-East as a legal and peaceful civil protest, insisting that it does not amount to a crime.
The group stated this in a statement on Sunday, signed by its spokesman, Emma Powerful, in response to the Anambra State Government’s plan to sanction workers who fail to report for duty on Mondays.
IPOB was reacting to a recent warning by Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, that teaching and non-teaching staff who stay away from work on Mondays risk disciplinary measures. The state government had also announced plans to introduce pro-rata salary payments for civil servants as part of efforts to curb the sit-at-home.
According to the Anambra State Government, the policy, which will take effect from February 2026, will ensure that workers are paid in proportion to the number of days worked each month.
IPOB, however, said the Monday sit-at-home is a voluntary act of solidarity with its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu, and a non-violent expression of protest against what it described as his continued unlawful detention.
“Monday sit-at-home is civil disobedience, not terrorism,” the group said, adding that citizens have the right to remain indoors as a form of peaceful protest.
The pro-Biafran group argued that no governor has the constitutional authority to compel citizens to open their businesses or move about against their will, describing attempts to penalise those who observe the sit-at-home as an attack on the dignity and freedom of the people.
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IPOB warned that any attempt by the state government to enforce compliance through intimidation, arrests or the use of task forces would amount to crossing a “red line”.
The group urged Governor Soludo to stop what it described as threats against residents of the state and instead focus on addressing the root causes of agitation in the South-East, particularly the release of Nnamdi Kanu.
It maintained that the sit-at-home remains a voluntary, conscience-driven action and called on the state government to pursue dialogue and justice rather than punitive measures.
The Anambra State Government had earlier said the decision to implement pro-rata salary payments was reached during the end-of-tenure retreat of the State Executive Council held in Awka, according to the Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor.