The Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has ordered a massive arrest of those responsible for enforcing the illegal sit-at-home order by Simon Ekpa, self-proclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), throughout the south-east.
Lagbaja gave the order following an announcement by Ekpa, a Finland-based pro-Biafra agitator, who announced that there would be a two-week sit-at-home in the South-East region from July 31.
According to Ekpa, the sit-at-home order was to demand the immediate and unconditional release of the detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, as well as facilitate the freedom of Biafra nation, among others.
Ekpa warned that failure to comply with the sit-at-home order would attract “heavy consequences”.
But speaking through the director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, Lagbaja declared that such an announcement was unlawful and would not be condoned.
He said the troops of the 82 Division had been given an order to work with other security agencies to ensure citizens go about their businesses freely.
“The renewed threat by IPOB to compel the people in southeastern Nigeria to sit at home is not only appalling but a violation of the fundamental rights of southeastern Nigerians and, therefore, unlawful. This will never be condoned,” he said.
“The Chief of Army Staff has handed down clear directives to the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army operating in synergy with other security agencies to ensure robust patrols to dominate all flashpoints and emplace measures to ensure citizens are free to go about their legitimate businesses.”
He maintained that Simon Ekpa, a notorious terrorist and self-acclaimed leader of IPOB, is in Finland making a living for himself and his family, but ordering the people to shut down their means of livelihood by sitting at home.
The army spokesman called on Nigerians in the south-east region to disregard the sit-at-home order, urging them to shun all forms of threats aimed at unlawfully compelling them to be reclusive by sitting at home.
