BREAKING: Showdown As IPOB Dares Anambra Traders To Defy Onitsha Market Opening Amid Soludo Closure
In a sharp escalation of tensions between the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo, the pro-Biafra group has openly dared traders to ignore the governor’s one-week shutdown order on Onitsha Main Market and resume business immediately, starting tomorrow.
The confrontation stems from the ongoing Monday “sit-at-home” observance enforced by IPOB, a protest originally launched to demand the release of its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
On Monday, January 26, 2026, despite repeated warnings from the state government, many traders at Onitsha Main Market—one of West Africa’s largest commercial hubs—kept their shops closed in compliance with the directive.
Governor Soludo, who made an unscheduled visit to the market that morning, described the continued observance as “economic sabotage” and immediately ordered the market sealed for one week.
In a video statement circulated widely on social media, Soludo emphasized his administration’s resolve to restore normalcy on Mondays across Anambra.
“We will lock it for one week in the first instance,” he said.
“If we come here next week Monday and you still obey IPOB sit-at-home, we will lock it for one month.”
He warned that similar measures would apply to other markets, schools, and institutions defying the directive, and reiterated plans for pro-rata salary deductions for civil servants failing to report on Mondays starting next month.
IPOB responded swiftly through statements and posts on platforms including X, saluting Anambra residents for upholding the sit-at-home despite what it called “threats” and “intimidation” from Soludo.
The group described the governor’s actions as disappointing, noting his past visit to Kanu in detention and accusing him of prioritizing “Abuja interests” over the Igbo people.
IPOB explicitly called on “all law-abiding residents and business owners across Onitsha, Nnewi, and Awka to troop out en masse tomorrow and open their shops and markets peacefully,” framing defiance of the closure as resistance to oppression.
The Indigenous People of Biafra further urged traders to disregard the government seal, insisting the sit-at-home is a legitimate, peaceful demonstration tied to Kanu’s detention rather than rebellion.
They reiterated that releasing Kanu would immediately end the practice, positioning the protest as a symbol of broader discontent in the Southeast over perceived marginalization.
Onitsha Main Market serves as a critical economic artery for the region and beyond, handling massive volumes of goods and linking traders nationwide.
The shutdown has already disrupted supply chains, with fears of extended losses for small-scale merchants who rely on daily operations.
IPOB Dares Anambra Gov Soludo
Past enforcement of sit-at-home orders has been marred by violence, including reported attacks on non-compliant traders and markets, which many locals cite as a reason for compliance out of fear rather than full support.
Public reactions remain deeply divided. Supporters of Soludo praise his firmness in combating what they see as lawlessness and economic self-harm, with some calling Onitsha the “last IPOB stronghold” that needs liberation from the practice.
Critics, including human rights advocates and pro-Biafra voices, argue the governor’s heavy-handed approach punishes ordinary traders caught between state authority and non-state enforcement threats, potentially escalating insecurity.
As traders face the dilemma of reopening under government orders or risking further sanctions—and possible retaliation—the standoff highlights the persistent challenge of balancing federal unity, regional grievances, and economic functionality in Nigeria’s Southeast.
With next Monday looming as the next test, all eyes remain on Onitsha to see whether IPOB’s dare gains traction or Soludo’s crackdown prevails.
