IPOB sit-at-home in South-East no longer exists, Army Chief says

The sit-at-home order that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had been enforcing across the Southeast states is no longer in effect, according to Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff.

IPOB started the sit-at-home order in August 2021 to call for the release of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, from prison.

The sit-at-home had an effect on the local economy and caused deaths and property losses among South-East people.

At the COAS combined second and third quarters conference on Tuesday in Abuja, Lagbaja claimed that the menace had been eradicated as a consequence of increased efforts made by his men and cooperation with key stakeholders.

“We have equally heightened our efforts in containing criminalities perpetrated in the South East Region by IPOB and Eastern Security Network. Through Operation Udo Ka, our troops have, in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders, put an end to the infamous sit-at-home order that has almost crippled socio-economic activities in the Region,” Lagbaja said.

“Law-abiding citizens of the Region now go about their businesses and everyday life. Similarly, our joint efforts with various government agencies have quelled attempts by criminals to disrupt economic activities in the South West Region.”

In addition, Lagbaja stated that Boko Haram and other terrorist operations had been reduced, noting that locals in the unstable states had started conducting business there.

He said, “It is heart-warming to note that our activities in Operation Hadin Kai in the North East have effectively curtailed Boko Haram and other terrorist activities in the Region. Overall, our efforts have resulted in the large-scale surrender of members of the terrorist groups and the submission of a large cache of arms and ammunition.”