October 1: IPOB Locks Down South-east, Orders Flags Fly Half Mast

By Adesina Soyooye

Again, the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, has set the stage for a possible clash with the Nigerian State.

October 1 is Nigeria’s 61st Independence anniversary, but IPOB is set to make that day a no-event in the South-east.

To achieve this, the Group has decided to use its most potent weapon.

To that effect, its Leadership has ordered a sit-at-home order on October 1.

Meaning: there will be no movement on that day.

In addition, it has ordered all flags within the Region to fly at half mast as from Saturday, September 25, 2021, except those in Banks.

Even then, the Group says it will tell the Banks when to fly the flags in their premises at half mast, and threatened it would do it its own way if the banks refuse to comply.

Following is the IPOB statement signed by Mazi Chika Edoziem, and dated September 24, 2021.

“1st of October declared total shutdown in Biafra land. There shall be no movement in Biafra land on 1st of October being Nigerian Independence Day.

“Again from tonight all Nigerian flag mounted anywhere in Biafra land must be brought down, Banks exceptional.

“IPOB leadership will communicate to Banks directly and give them reason they must peaceful bring down zoo flag otherwise we do it ourselves in our own way.”

The now “popular” lockdown   – sit-at-home order- was introduced to be a weekly affair by IPOB to pressurise the Federal Government into releasing its Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who is under custody and being prosecuted for alleged sundry offences, including treasonable felony and murder. It later reduced it to only the days Kanu would appear in Court. But it has not helped, as most people, out of fear stay home every Monday.

Not only has it resulted in violence and deaths, it has grounded, almost, the economy of the Zone.