IPOB Declares May 30 Sit-at-Home in South-East

The leader of the Apex Igbo Socio-Cultural Organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, said on Tuesday that his organisation wasn't officially informed about the planned Biafra Heroes Day by the separatist group, IPOB.

It was gathered that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had declared that May 30 would be a sit-at-home day in the five South-East states to honour the memories of Biafra heroes who died during the civil war of 1967–1970. This, according to journalists, caused tension with the leading Igbo organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, who hadn't been formally informed.

The group noted that there would be restrictions on movements and businesses would not open in the south-east geopolitical zone of the country on May 30.

According to a statement on Tuesday by IPOB's spokesman, Emma Powerful, the group revealed that the May 30 date remained sacrosanct.

However, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, when contacted on the phone on whether Ohanaeze, as the apex Igbo body was being informed, said he had yet to see the IPOB statement.

I have yet to see the statement, but somebody has drawn my attention to it, and when I get it, I will study it. Call me back in two days’ time to react, Iwuanyanwu told journalists.

The police assured residents of their safety and urged them to ignore the sit-at-home order.

IPOB defended their actions, saying they are remembering war heroes and that the government shouldn't stop them. They claimed the sit-at-home is peaceful and only one day, and those causing trouble are not part of their group.

IPOB listed important figures from the war and urged supporters outside Nigeria to protest for Biafran independence.