The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Sunday said their will be “total lockdown” of the five States of the South East region as part of the activities for its “annual anniversary of our fallen heroes and heroines will be on Sunday, 30th of May 2021.”
The also banned all church services on that day, adding that “thre will be no procession or protest anywhere” as everyone was expected to stay indoors.
Justifying the church service ban, IPOB said in a statement by its Spokesperson, Emma Powerful, that the “Almighty God knows what we are doing. Nobody is expected to flout this directive.”
Saying that there will be sit-at- home across “Biafraland,” Lagos, Abuja as well as Northern towns with reasonable “Biafran” population, Powerful noted that the same order is to be observed in all the markets within and outside “Biafraland where our people do their businesses. It shall also be observed by Diasporan Biafrans in the over 100 countries with the IPOB family is present.”
The group solicited that “our fellow comrades in Yoruba, Middle Belt and other Christians living in the far North to solidarise with us in the event as we honour all those who have paid the supreme price in our struggle for total freedom.”
It said that all “Biafrans” living overseas “must hold rallies in their respective countries of abode in honour of our fallen heroes and heroines including the gallant Imo State Eastern Security Network, ESN, COMMANDER, Ikonso and his men murdered last week by the Nigeria security agents.
“The rallies will also show the outside world of our resolve and preparedness to leave Nigeria. We equally advise our Diasporan people to ensure they get the written approval of their host countries before embarking on the rallies.”
The group celebrates on 30th of May every year to commemorate the declaration of Biafra in 1967 by late Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu. This led to the 30-month civil war from 1967 to 1970.
According to the statement, “we shall always remember all those who died in the course of the war and our march to freedom. Consequently, there will be no movement on the roads throughout Biafraland; no banking or financial services in our territory; no commercial activities of any kind. The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), National Associations of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Luxurious Bus Associations of Nigeria (LUBAN), Keke and Tricycle Associations of Nigeria, Antisans, Vulcanizers, Okada Associations, Markets, Parks, Airports, Seaports, and others in Biafra land are advised to shut down completely on that day.”