Anambra State government has urged its indigenes to shun the sit-at-home protest announced by a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
A release by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Mr Paul Nwosu said the attention of the state government has been drawn to the announcement which he described as wicked, mindless, retrogressive and unnecessarily punitive.
He said the order released on social media was by “enemies of Igbo nation.”
A faction of IPOB, led by Finland-based Simon Ekpa had slated five days, from December 9 to 14, for the sit-at-home.
In the release, Nwosu said: “Government is calling on our people to disregard the order and go about their normal businesses and daily activities peacefully. The Christmas season is a period of joy and happiness and government will go all out to ensure that the mood is not dampened in any way.
“All the various arms of our security agencies are on full alert to ensure the safety of lives and properties as well as apprehend those who may breach the peace and tranquillity of the state this season.”
He added: “Anambra State Government also finds it disturbing that a renegade and expelled member of IPOB will, from the comfort of his Finland home, continue to issue cold-blooded and murderous orders that are aimed at destabilizing Igboland.
“This is condemnable and an atrocious crime against the enterprising and peace-loving people of Igboland. It’s about time the Federal Government took necessary steps to contain these foreign agents who are bent on fomenting needless crisis in southeastern states.
“It is pertinent to note that in a swift reaction by the authentic IPOB leadership led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the media and publicity secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, stated that “the global family of IPOB, under the command and leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu Kanu did not issue any sit-at-home order.”
