The Nigerian Police Force’s Ebonyi State Command has declared that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who are outlawed, cannot maintain their sit-at-home order in the state.
Newsmen believes that from May 8 to May 11, all “Biafralands” were to observe a sit-at-home protest called by the banned organisation Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Police Command spokesperson SP Onome Onovwakpoyeya encouraged state residents to disregard the agitators’ directive to stay at home in a statement given to reporters in Abakaliki on Monday.
According to the statement, CP Faleye Olaleye, the Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi, described the order as illegal and unconstitutional.
It reads: “Police is aware of the statement in circulation by a group that called itself, Indigenous People of Biafra asking people to observe a Sit-at-home from May 8 to May 11, 2023, for a reason best known to them.
“The order is unconstitutional, unlawful and cannot stand.
“We, therefore, enjoin the good people of Ebonyi to discountenance the order and go about their lawful business without fear of intimidation as the Police is more prepared to provide them with maximum protection for their safety.”
The commissioner also urged members of the public to oblige the force with information about threats to their safety in the state.
“We assure you that the command shall continue to be resilient in its determination to ensure criminal elements are denied the space to carry out their unlawful activities in the state,” the police command assured.