Residents, businesses and transport operators brace for shutdown as IPOB announces lockdown order
Fresh tension is building across Nigeria’s South-East region after the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, announced a total sit-at-home order for May 30 in honour of what it described as “Biafran Heroes and Heroines Remembrance Day.”
According to statements released by the separatist group, the lockdown is expected to affect markets, schools, transportation, banks, and other public activities across the region between 6am and 6pm.
IPOB said the annual exercise is aimed at remembering those who lost their lives during the Nigerian Civil War and the broader Biafran struggle. The group urged residents to stay indoors and participate in prayers and reflection activities throughout the day.
The announcement has already triggered anxiety among business owners and commuters who fear possible disruptions to economic activities in major South-East cities. Previous sit-at-home orders linked to IPOB have often generated tension, with reports of low commercial activity and security concerns in affected states.
Security observers say authorities may intensify monitoring across the region as the date approaches. Meanwhile, reactions online remain deeply divided, with some supporters defending the remembrance exercise while critics argue that repeated shutdowns continue to hurt local businesses and worsen hardship in the South-East.