IPOB DENIES POLICE CLAIM OF RESUMING MONDAY SIT-AT-HOME, ALLEGES PLOT TO BLAME GROUP FOR SOUTH-EAST INSECURITY

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has denied allegations by the Nigeria Police Force that it plans to resume enforcing the Monday sit-at-home order across the South-East, describing a purported police intelligence report on the matter as fabricated.

The group, through its spokesperson and Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, issued the denial on Monday, October 12, 2026. It challenged the police to provide verifiable evidence supporting claims that IPOB and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), intended to reinstate the sit-at-home directive from that date.

The controversy followed a purported police intelligence report dated October 9, 2026, which allegedly warned that IPOB and ESN were planning to resume enforcement of the Monday shutdown across parts of the South-East, including Imo State.

IPOB rejected the document, describing it as propaganda intended to discredit the organisation and associate it with insecurity in the region. The group also questioned the authenticity of the report, which it said carried reference number CB:4089/FID/INTLAB/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.14/231 and was attributed to the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Intelligence Department.

In its statement, IPOB insisted that neither it nor ESN had issued any directive ordering residents to remain indoors on Mondays. The group maintained that it had no intention of compelling traders, transport operators, students, workers or other residents to observe a renewed shutdown.

Powerful said the organisation had repeatedly rejected the enforcement of sit-at-home orders and maintained that its stated struggle was political and directed towards Biafran self-determination through peaceful means.

The group further alleged that the report was designed to divert public attention from the position of its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu, on political developments and the forthcoming elections. IPOB reiterated its stated intention to boycott the elections, although it did not provide independent evidence to establish that the police document was created for the purpose it alleged.

IPOB also disputed the reported existence of an audio recording allegedly linked to the planned resumption of the sit-at-home. It challenged the police to release the original recording, identify its source and provide evidence linking the speaker or message to the organisation or ESN.

The group accused security agencies, politicians and individuals it described as former members of its Directorate of State of working together to circulate what it characterised as misleading intelligence. These accusations remain claims made by IPOB and have not been independently substantiated.

In a particularly serious allegation, IPOB claimed that the purported intelligence report could be part of a plan to create the impression that the group was responsible for fresh violence in the South-East. It alleged that the withdrawal or redeployment of security personnel, followed by the circulation of an alleged threat document and an anonymous voice note, could be used to attribute subsequent incidents of insecurity to the organisation.

The group said it had previously raised concerns about the deployment of security personnel in the region and argued that the latest report reinforced its suspicions. However, it did not present independently verifiable evidence proving that police officers or political actors had coordinated the alleged activities.

IPOB also criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu and political actors it accused of collaborating in what it described as propaganda. The organisation argued that government attention should instead focus on economic hardship, unemployment and the security challenges confronting residents of the South-East.

The sit-at-home controversy has remained a sensitive issue across the region since the directive emerged in 2021 amid protests over Kanu’s detention. The shutdowns have, at different times, disrupted commercial activities, schooling, transportation and other aspects of daily life, while reports of violent enforcement have heightened fears among residents and business owners.

In February 2026, IPOB announced that Kanu had ordered the total cancellation of the Monday sit-at-home directive, urging residents to reopen markets, return to work and resume normal activities. Despite that announcement, concerns about continued observance and reported enforcement have persisted in parts of the region.

The latest disagreement therefore centres on whether the police possess credible evidence of a new directive and whether the purported intelligence report accurately reflects the position of IPOB or ESN. The organisation has rejected the allegations, while the evidence supporting the reported warning has not been independently established in the available account.

IPOB called on the Nigeria Police Force to disclose the original audio recording, explain how the intelligence was obtained and provide the basis for attributing the alleged plan to the group. It maintained that any accusation should be supported by verifiable evidence rather than unconfirmed documents or recordings.

The police position and the authenticity of the disputed report remain important to establishing the facts. A response from the authorities addressing IPOB’s challenge could clarify whether the intelligence assessment remains in force and what evidence, if any, supports the allegation of a planned resumption.

The dispute comes amid continuing security concerns in the South-East, where residents have called for improved protection against attacks, abductions and other criminal activities. The competing claims underline the importance of distinguishing verified security information from allegations made by interested parties.

IPOB reiterated that the disputed report would not change its stated political position or its decision to boycott the forthcoming elections. It urged residents not to accept allegations against the organisation without evidence and warned against what it described as attempts to associate the group with violence it denied authorising.

Street News Reporters will continue to monitor developments, including any response from the Nigeria Police Force, the release of evidence relating to the alleged intelligence report and further clarification of IPOB’s position on Monday sit-at-home enforcement.