Biafra: IPOB 14th September Sit-At-Home Protest: Army, Police, Civil Defense, DSS React

Nigerians have been asked by the security agencies not to take seriously, the sit-at-home order declared by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), saying it will not hold.

The sit-at-home order, which has been fixed for September 14, 2018, was handed down by IPOB in a statement last week by the group’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful.

The statement had called on Igbos in every part of the country to stay indoor on the said date, to register its anger, and protest the alleged killing of men and women at Afaraukwu, Umuahia, in the course of Operation Python Dance carried out by the military in September, 2017, as well as those killed in Port Harcourt and Aba.

IPOB regretted that one Mr. Okafor, who was allegedly on a peaceful march from Nkpor to Onitsha, was shot dead by the army.

Addressing reporters after a closed-door meeting of high-powered security operatives that included the Army, Police, Civil Defense, Immigration, Department of State Services (DSS), at the State Police Headquarters in Awka, the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Garba Umar, reiterated that IPOB is an illegal organisation and therefore has no right to give order to anybody.

He said: “IPOB is an illegal organisation. We are therefore appealing to members of the public that, on no account should they be intimidated or harassed into succumbing to the threat of IPOB. They plan to embark on sit-at-home on September 14, 2018, but the security agencies are ready for any eventuality.

“We are ready, and we have all it takes to keep the peace in this state. Anambra State has been enjoying relative peace and we will never relax in providing adequate security in this state. We are in touch with all security agencies, including the military, that we will never ever allow anybody to truncate the democracy we are enjoying, and on no account should we allow anybody to foul this peaceful atmosphere.

“We urge members of the public to go about their lawful businesses as they will be adequately protected. The issue of calling for a referendum on the 8th of this month or thereabout and the September 14 sit-at-home order by IPOB will not be tolerated”, he added.