The Indigenous People of Biafra has urged South-East residents to ignore sit-at-home orders for October 21 and 22, claiming they did not originate from the group.

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has called on residents of the South-East to disregard any declarations of a sit-at-home order on October 21 and 22.

The group insists that the directive did not originate from them and is the result of misinformation spread by criminal elements.

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In recent weeks, videos and voice notes have circulated on social media, warning residents to stay indoors on these dates.

The messages threaten repercussions for anyone who defies the order, declaring it non-negotiable and sacrosanct.

This situation has incited panic across the region, particularly in Anambra State, leading to the rescheduling of various official and unofficial engagements.

A court clerk at the High Court in Onitsha confirmed that cases scheduled for those days have been postponed to avoid potential disruptions.

“We heard they have declared October 21 and 22 as a sit-at-home, and that necessitated the rescheduling of every engagement on those days,” the clerk stated.

“The reason for the rescheduling of the cases is to avoid a situation where hoodlums might hijack the vehicles conveying suspects to court from the prisons.”

The fear surrounding the potential sit-at-home has also prompted panic buying in major markets, as customers rushed to complete transactions in anticipation of possible disruptions.

Notices have been posted in schools, warning parents and students of the cancellation of activities on October 21 and 22 for security reasons. One notice read:

“Based on the circulating threats from IPOB, be notified that there will be no school on Monday and Tuesday, 21st and 22nd October 2024. This is strictly for security reasons.”

In response to the situation, IPOB spokesman Emma Powerful asserted that the group has not declared any sit-at-home order and condemned the misinformation.

“The illegal order is from criminal elements and Finland-based infiltrators who are not our members,” Powerful stated in a telephone interview. “We urged our people to ignore the order and go about their normal business on those days.”

He emphasised that IPOB does not issue unnecessary sit-at-home orders, having suspended any such directives in the past.

“We didn’t want to talk about it again to avoid giving undue popularity to the inconsequential order from Finland-based infiltrators,” he added.

As the dates approach, the situation remains tense in the South-East, with residents anxiously awaiting developments and hoping for clarity on the conflicting messages surrounding the alleged sit-at-home order.