“If Sit-at-home Is About Nnamdi Kanu, Why Is It Not Observed In his Home Town Umuahia?”  – Soludo

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo on Thursday, January 29, 2026, reassured residents, particularly, traders  and the business community of the provision of adequate security every Monday for the purpose of conducting their lawful daily activities.

The assurance was made against the backdrop of the fears expressed by traders and the business community in the State on carrying out their legitimate business during the Monday sit-at-home order proclaimed by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, in the South East region of Nigeria.

Governor Soludo had, on Monday, ordered the interim closure of the Onitsha Main Market, over the traders continued observation of the outlawed Monday sit-at-home in the State.

The State authorities had, last weekend, warned residents particularly civil servants against the continued observation of the IPOB- proclaimed sit-at-home.

But at a parley with the leadership of all the Markets onThursday , Governor Soludo informed that arrangements have been concluded for enhanced security at all levels in Anambra so as to provide the enabling environment for residents to go about their legitimate and normal daily activities.

Specifically, the Governor assured that adequate security measures will be put in place at all the Markets in the State in a bid to restore the confidence of the people ,and ensure a free flow of  business activities every Monday.

He expressed Government’s readiness to work in concert with the leaders of the various Markets to restore normalcy in the state .

“We are going to work with you. We will allow security personnel to stay with you for weeks if necessary. Security is not just about guns, it is about will and mindset”,  Governor Soludo stated.

He, however, warned that Government will not hesitate to take drastic action against any individuals or groups found to be still observing the Monday sit-at-home after all the efforts of the Government.

The Governor warned that anybody who closes his/her shop, or  enforces market closure every Monday will be treated as an enemy of the State who is working for the jailed Simon Ekpa.

“Anybody found closing shops every Monday will be treated like a criminal,. We can not be harbouring criminals in Anambra State.

“If anyone sends you threatening messages, forward same to us. We will get those criminals. We will also provide you with additional security personnel.

“It is completely untrue and absolutely crazy to associate sit-at-home with Nnamdi Kanu’s detention .

“If it were about him, why is there no sit-at-home in Umuahia, his home town? .Show me anywhere in the world where children are stopped from going to school because someone is detained.

“We cannot destroy the people we claim to be fighting for. Anambra must move forward . Many of those enforcing this lockdown are not even from Anambra”, the Governor noted .

Earlier, the Chairman of the closed  Onitsha Main Market, Chief Chijioke Okpalaugo, had informed that most of the traders  stay away from their shops every Monday for fear of being targeted by enforcers of the sit-at-home order.

While expressing the readiness of the traders to heed Government directives concerning  sit-at-home, he called on the authorities to ensure that other critical sectors of the economy, including motor parks also open for business every Monday.