The Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has issued an order for troops to seize control of places where the Indigenous People of Biafra are enforcing sit-at-home orders.
The directive was issued after Simon Ekpa, a pro-Biafra agitator residing in Finland, called for a two-week sit-at-home in the South-East region beginning on July 31.
He claimed the directive’s goals included helping bring about the independence of Biafra nation and the prompt and unconditional release of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu.
Ekpa threatened ‘severe repercussions’ for disobeying the stay-in-your-room order.
The Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, stated that such a declaration was illegal and would not be tolerated in an interview with The PUNCH.
He said the 82nd Division had been tasked with coordinating with law enforcement to keep the public safe while allowing people to go about their daily lives unhindered.
Onyema said, “The renewed threat by IPOB to compel the people in southeastern 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.
“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.
“Strangely, Simon Ekpa, a notorious terrorist and self-acclaimed leader of IPOB, is in Finland making a living for himself and his family, but ordering the people to shut down their means of livelihood by sitting at home.”
The army spokesman urged people in the South-East area of Nigeria to ignore the order to stay indoors and instead help the security forces fight IPOB.
Onyema said, “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.”
