When the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) first announced a sit-at-home order in August 2021, little did Nigerians know that this would pave the way for killings and economic disruption in the South-East region. These Biafra agitators in 2021 vowed to cripple the Nigerian economy if their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, was not released at that time.
Even though this was not the first time a sit-at-home would be enforced, the 2021 declaration marked the beginning of a recurring weekly sit-at-home protest, having a grave negative impact that has lasted for years.
Kanu, the leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movement, was first arrested in 2015 and, after spending two years in detention, disappeared in 2017 while on bail. In 2021, he was arrested in Kenya and repatriated to Nigeria to face several terrorism charges.
Since then, IPOB has announced and intermittently enforced regional sit-at-home orders every Monday and sometimes on other weekdays to register its protest against his continued imprisonment.
Just recently, IPOB declared a sit-at-home on May 30, 2025, to honour Biafran men and women who died during the Biafran War. According to them, this is a yearly memorial to remember Biafra’s heroes and heroines and would include a lockdown of the region from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with only essential workers permitted to operate during this time.
The Biafra War, which took place from July 6, 1967, to January 15, 1970, following the declaration of independence by the southeastern region of Nigeria as the Republic of Biafra, led to the death of over 1 million people. However, after reintegration into Nigeria, the agitation for the Republic of Biafra is still ongoing.
Many have lost their lives
There was a spree of violence in August 2021 during the sit-at-home order enforced in Southeast. PUNCH reported that hoodlums wreaked havoc in Anambra and Imo states, leading to the death of eight people, including men of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF).
In Nnewi, Anambra State, gunmen attacked a police Area Command, killing four officers and injuring several others. This assault occurred shortly after a joint security patrol reportedly killed two individuals suspected of enforcing the sit-at-home directive. The attackers, arriving in seven vehicles, overpowered the police, seized arms and ammunition, and set three buses ablaze. Eyewitnesses reported hearing gunshots and seeing vehicles abandoned as residents fled the violence.
Also, the violence escalated in Imo State as five vehicles, including commercial buses and private cars, were set on fire along the Owerri-Umuahia Road. One passenger was tragically burnt alive.
On May 9, 2025, Gunmen shot dead at least 30 travellers in an attack in Imo state. The attackers, who were suspected to be members of IPOB, set ablaze more than 20 vehicles and trucks.
A recent report revealed that these sit-at-home directives have led to the death of 776 persons, in 322 violent incidents between 2021 and 2025.
The report by SBM Intelligence revealed that these attacks include retaliatory killings of civilians who defied the orders.
Some of this notable incidents include the May 2022 massacre of 14 civilians in Anambra12, the April 2023 clash in Imo State between IPOB’s Eastern Security Network (ESN) and security forces13, and a May 2024 ambush in Aba that killed five soldiers and six civilians14, followed by a March 2025 police headquarters attack in Enugu15. IPOB’s enforcement tactics, including arson, looting, and targeted assassinations, have created a climate of fear.
“ From the state-by-state incidents and fatalities, it is evident that Imo State has experienced the highest level of violence, with 130 incidents and 332 fatalities reported between 2021 and 2025. This is followed by Anambra State, which recorded 94 incidents and 202 fatalities.
“The relatively high level of incidents and fatalities in Imo suggests that the state has been a major hotspot for violence, likely driven by the conflicts. Imo State has emerged as the epicentre of IPOB and ESN-related violence in the Southeast over the last four years, with 130 incidents and 332 fatalities between 2021 and 2025,” a part of the report reads.
IPOB Sabotages the economy
IPOB’s sit-at-home orders have imposed severe economic and humanitarian costs on Southeast Nigeria, crippling livelihoods, destabilising security, and eroding public trust.
The SBM intelligence report disclosed that the region’s once-vibrant commercial hubs now face paralysis on Mondays, with trade and commerce suffering substantial losses, with estimates suggesting these losses range from N655 billion to N3.8 trillion over 24 months.
“ Key markets like Onitsha and Ariaria, traditionally bustling at the start of the week, report near-total shutdowns, disrupting supply chains nationwide. The transportation sector is also heavily affected; transporters are losing N10–13 billion daily during the protests as of 2022. This has led to the withdrawal of services due to attacks on vehicles and passengers, exacerbating shortages and causing spoilage of perishable goods like vegetables and fruits (up to 18%),” the report reads.
Solutions require a multifaceted approach
SBM Intelligence notes that to address these challenges, a multifaceted approach is required, one of which is the release of Nnamdi Kanu as a confidence-building measure, paired with structured negotiations addressing Igbo grievances (e.g., fiscal federalism, security decentralisation).
SBM notes that a regional economic summit is needed to draft recovery plans with federal backing, focusing on SME revitalisation and infrastructure.
The firm emphasises that security reforms should include community-led policing to counter the influence of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), while avoiding excessive military force and conducting targeted operations to dismantle arms trafficking networks.
“For economic recovery, emergency relief funds should be provided to traders and transporters, especially in heavily affected commercial hubs like Onitsha and Aba, alongside offering tax relief to businesses operating in zones with high levels of compliance.
“In the education sector, weekend catch-up programs are recommended to bridge learning gaps, while vocational training initiatives should be introduced to engage and empower disaffected youth, steering them away from militancy and towards productive livelihoods,” SBM said.
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