TheCable

The proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) says it will enforce a lockdown every Monday in the south-east until its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is released.

Kanu is facing charges bordering on treasonable felony brought against him by the federal government over his campaign for the Republic of Biafra.

He was released in April 2017 on health grounds but jumped bail after flouting some of the conditions given to him by the court.

Kanu was re-arraigned before Binta Nyako of the federal high court in Abuja on June 29 after being intercepted and extradited to Nigeria. His trial was adjourned till July 26 for a hearing.

The trial was later adjourned to October 21, due to the inability of the federal government to provide him in the court.

TheCable had reported that IPOB vowed to lock down the south-east if the federal government refused to provide its leader.

In a statement issued on Friday, Emma Powerful, IPOB publicity secretary, said the lockdown tagged ‘ghost Monday’ will also affect schools and marketplaces.

He said the sit-at-home order will start on Monday, August 9, and remain in place until their requests are heeded.

“We the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB (IPOB) ably led by our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wish to announce to all Biafra citizens, friends of Biafra and lovers of Biafra freedom and independence that IPOB leadership has declared every Monday ‘a ghost Monday,” the statement reads.

“This declaration takes effect from Monday, August 9, 2021. From that day Biafra land will be on lockdown every Monday from 6:00am to 6:00pm until our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who was unlawfully abuducted in Kenya and illegally detained by the federal government of Nigeria is released.

“We wish to state full details of this coming ghost Mondays every week, our people must understand that it was designed to show the world how serious we are towards this fight for Biafra freedom and independence everybody must adhere to this clarion call put in place by the leadership of IPOB and it would be good for everyone to know that that IPOB will not relent until Biafra is fully achieved, the DSS can go ahead and keep our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu incommunicado without access to him and we observed that DSS operatives are torturing our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to the point of death that was why they don’t anybody to see his state of health in the DSS facility.

“DSS should know that if any thing untoward happen to him we are going to confirm what IPOB is made and they will understand that we are prepared for this freedom. Our Leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not a criminal and has the rights to be visited in their custody. This is a call for Biafran leaders, politicians especially those mentioned their names as those behind his abduction and rendition to Nigeria, if anything happens to our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu all of them should prepare never come back to Biafraland because it will not accommodate us together. Nobody should take our quietness as coward Ness. Our intelligence reveals that Nnamdi Kanu is under serious torture and humaniliation because he refused all offer given to him.

“We declare every Monday sit- at- home throughout Biafra land until our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, regains his freedom. The federal government must allow him access to his personal physicians, and allow him to sign documents given to him by the British Government to provide him consular assistance. This peaceful protest will continue ones every week until our demands are met.

“We urge Biafrans to be prepared because we will no longer fold our arms while our leader who is fighting for the liberation of the oppressed indigenous nationalities in Nigeria is languishing in detention. We are going to cripple Nigerian economy until they free him.

“Consequently, all institutions public and private, transport companies, schools, banks, markets, airports and sea ports in Biafra land must shut down every Monday beginning from August 9. People are to remain indoors to register their concern over the fate of our Leader and the rest of all agitators languishing in various security detentions.

“Nobody should attempt to flout this directive as doing so may come with huge consequences. Anybody flouting this order is taking a grave risk.

“Nnamdi Kanu has sacrificed so much for Biafra, so sacrificing Mondays of every week is not too much for us. Fulani herdsmen have continued to kill our people yet the federal government failed to protect our people.”