Anambra Governor Closes Onitsha Market, IPOB Declares Sit-at-Home

Nigeria===Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo ordered the closure of Main Market, Onitsha for one week due to traders' non-compliance with the directive to disregard the Monday sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra. This action was taken to restore economic activities, which Charles Soludo described as 'economic sabotage.' The Indigenous People of Biafra, in response, declared a 'Biafra-wide solidarity lockdown' across the South-East for February 2, 2026, to protest Charles Soludo's 'tyrannical actions' and demand the release of Nnamdi Kanu. Charles Soludo has also threatened further market closures, revocation of land ownership, and demolition of shops if traders continue to observe the sit-at-home. While a faction of Indigenous People of Biafra, through Emma Powerful, called for the sit-at-home, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, lead counsel to Indigenous People of Biafra, disowned the order, calling it fraudulent and dangerous. Charles Soludo also revealed plans for a master plan to reconstruct Main Market, Onitsha, which he described as 'literally dead' due to the sit-at-home and poor urban planning. The situation has created fresh anxiety in South-East states like Nigeria===Abia State, Nigeria===Enugu State, Nigeria===Ebonyi State, and Nigeria===Imo State, with police in Nigeria===Anambra State declaring readiness to maintain law and order.