Summary:
Tensions have reached a boiling point in Anambra State as the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) launches a scathing attack on Governor Chukwuma Soludo. The pro-Biafra group alleges that the Governor’s deployment of armored tanks to enforce the closure of Onitsha Main Market is a calculated attempt to instigate bloodshed and sabotage their cause.
The commercial nerve center of Anambra State, Onitsha Main Market, has become the latest battleground in the power struggle between the state government and pro-Biafra agitators. The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has issued a stern condemnation of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, accusing him of deliberately weaponizing security agencies to destabilize the region’s fragile peace.
The Trigger: A Clash of Orders
The conflict stems from the controversial sit-at-home order observed across the South-East on Mondays. Angered by the traders’ compliance with the order—which resulted in shops being closed on Monday—Governor Soludo retaliated by ordering the market shut for an entire week as a punitive measure. He further threatened a month-long closure should the traders fail to open their businesses the following Monday.
However, when traders attempted to access their shops on Tuesday following a counter-directive from IPOB, they were met with a heavy militarized presence. Reports indicate that the Governor deployed armored tanks and heavily armed police units to enforce the lockdown.
Allegations of State-Sponsored Terror
In a furious statement released by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, IPOB described the Governor’s actions as draconian and a violation of democratic tenets. The group alleged that security forces fired live ammunition at peaceful protesters and traders, creating a chaotic scene in the commercial city.
“In a blatant violation of human rights… these forces have opened live fire on peaceful demonstrators exercising their right to protest against the governor’s draconian sit-at-home enforcement orders,” the statement read.
IPOB contends that these tactics are a form of “state-sponsored terrorism” designed to provoke violence, which would subsequently be blamed on the group’s security arm, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
The Nnamdi Kanu Connection
The group warned that Governor Soludo is allowing himself to be used as a tool by oppressors to undermine the struggle for Biafra. They reiterated that their agitation for a referendum remains peaceful, despite the continued detention of their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Touching on recent legal developments, the group referenced Kanu’s potential transfer to a facility in the north, interpreting it through a prophetic lens.
“Governor Soludo’s reckless actions have only ignited the fire that will propel us inexorably toward the promised land… The liberation of Biafra is nearer than ever,” the statement concluded.
As the standoff continues, IPOB has called on the international community and human rights organizations to intervene and caution the Anambra State government against the use of lethal force on unarmed civilians.
