Sit-at-Home Compliance in Southeast, South-South Shows Biafrans Are Tired of Nigeria – Dr. Orabueze

The Deputy Prime Minister of the United States of Biafra (USB), Dr. Ngozi Orabueze, has claimed that the continued compliance with the Monday sit-at-home order across the Southeast and South-South regions demonstrates that the people have “delegitimized” the Nigerian government.

In a statement released via her official X account on Monday, Orabueze asserted that 98 percent of Biafrans voluntarily observed the sit-at-home directive, which has persisted for over three years. She described the action as a form of civil disobedience aimed at pressuring the Nigerian government to release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and USB leader, Simon Ekpa.

“The voluntary Monday sit-at-home, generally agreed on by almost 98 percent of citizens of the United States of Biafra today, February 3rd, 2025, recorded a huge success across the new state,” Orabueze stated.

She further argued that the consistent observance of the protest amounts to a “referendum” that strengthens the legitimacy of the USB while weakening the authority of the Nigerian state in the region.

According to her, the sit-at-home campaign will continue until Kanu and Ekpa are released and the security of the region is assured. She also accused the Nigerian military of committing atrocities in the Southeast, calling out Defense Chief Christopher Musa and President Bola Tinubu for alleged human rights violations.

Orabueze assured Biafrans that the USB leadership is working on legal and security frameworks to protect its citizens, emphasizing that the movement remains committed to its goal of self-determination.

The sit-at-home protests, initially introduced by IPOB, have led to significant economic disruptions in the region, affecting businesses, schools, and transportation.
While supporters see it as a form of resistance, critics argue that it has hurt local economies and subjected residents to intimidation by armed enforcers.

The call for Biafra’s secession remains a contentious issue in Nigeria, with the government maintaining that the country’s unity is non-negotiable.
Meanwhile, the Finnish government arrested Simon Ekpa in November last year, while Nnamdi Kanu has remained in detention since June 2021 following his extradition from Kenya.