The Nigerian Senate has expressed strong condemnation towards the recurring Monday sit-at-home protests in the South-East geopolitical zone. These protests have been enforced by a faction of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Abia, and Ebonyi states. The Senate has called upon the Federal Government to collaborate with the Finnish Government in extraditing a prominent pro-Biafran agitator, Simon Ekpa, for prosecution.
The sit-at-home orders have been in effect since 2021, aiming to exert pressure on the authorities for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of IPOB, who is currently in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) and facing terrorism-related charges.
During a Senate session on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, members expressed their concerns about the adverse effects of these sit-at-home protests on the region’s economy and the well-being of its citizens. As a response, the Senate has decided to invite the incoming Minister of Foreign Affairs and other relevant stakeholders to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. The primary objective of this investigation is to identify and bring to justice all individuals and groups involved in sponsoring these disruptive acts.
One of the severely affected states, Enugu, has suffered substantial economic losses due to the regular Monday sit-at-home protests. Governor Peter Mbah reported that the state is losing over ₦10 billion every Monday, as businesses remain closed, and economic activities come to a standstill.
