Police Moves To End Sit-At-Home Order In Anambra State

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Anambra State Police Command, on Monday, March 3, 2025, unveiled a new strategy aimed at breaking the circle of Sit-at -home order in the state.

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, is leading the new anti-sit-at-home  initiative, which is said to be advocacy and people  oriented.

The Source reports that the five states of the South East have been subjected to the observation of sit-at-home every Monday,since 2021, following the arrest, and rendition of the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, from Kenya .

The sit-at-home  order was  declared by IPOB  in the  South East region to register its  displeasure with what it perceives as the unjust  arrest , detention and trial of its leader on trumped up charges.

The Federal Government has been prosecuting Kanu on charges bordering on alleged terrorism.

Since the commencement of the seemingly endless trial, the five South Eastern States have been made to suffer complete lock down every Monday.

The development has, however, negatively impacted the socio-economic lives of the region, resulting in monumental set back for the people.

A statement from the Anambra police Command Spokesperson, Tochukwu  Ikenga, SP, on Monday, said the State Commissioner of Police, is deeply concerned about the devastating effects  the illegal action is  having on the social and economic growth of the state.

Ikenga informed that the new CP has emphasized the imperativeness of educating residents on the negative impacts of the sit-at-home order on the over all development of the state.

To this end, the CP is said to have opted for an advocacy-driven approach towards resolving the impasse.

“This is part of the strategy under the new leadership of the Anambra state Police Command, to address the public’s attitude toward ideologies based on crime .

This includes attacks on unsuspecting members of the public, security personnel, kidnapping of individuals, destruction of of public infrastructures, and other criminal activities”, Ikenga noted.

According to the statement, CP Orutugu is of the strong view that  Anambra, as a state, is endowed with huge potentials human and material, and, therefore, need an enabling peaceful environment for all to flourish.

The statement noted  the Command’s readiness and unwavering commitment towards providing adequate security framework in the State to enable residents  engage in their lawful activities without fear and or intimidation.

The police spokesman further noted that the Command has put in place all necessary machineries  to work in concert with community leaders and other relevant stakeholders to resolve the underlying issues driving the sit-at-home order .

The Command also expressed the optimism that the new approach to be spearheaded by an advocacy committee ,will lead to the final resolution of the situation.