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Security agencies across the South-East are on high alert ahead of a sit-at-home order declared by the Indigenous People of Biafra for today, Monday, February 2, 2026.

The directive, in solidarity with traders at the Onitsha Main Market, has sparked tension and confusion among residents, with authorities warning against spreading misinformation.

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State ordered the closure of Onitsha Main Market for one week after traders, complying with the IPOB sit-at-home order, refused to open their shops on Monday.

He warned that the state government would not hesitate to revoke shop ownership rights or take over and redevelop the market if traders failed to comply.

Soludo insisted that all market traders must open for business on Mondays and sign the attendance register before 10 am.

In support of the traders, IPOB, through its spokesman, Emma Powerful, called on traders, transporters, banks, schools, civil servants, and all sectors across Anambra, Abia, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi, and beyond to observe the solidarity strike peacefully.

The move, however, has further heightened tensions in the region.

Meanwhile, the IPOB leadership has publicly disowned the sit-at-home order, describing the directive circulated under the name “Emma Powerful” as fake and misleading.

In a counter-statement released on Saturday, IPOB lawyer Ifeanyi Ejiofor said the source behind the directive had been compromised and was acting against the collective interest of Ndi-Igbo.

He insisted that IPOB had formally distanced itself from the false sit-at-home order and directed Ndi-Igbo to go about their lawful activities without fear.

Also, in a press statement released on Saturday, the Head of the Directorate of State, IPOB, Chukwukadia Edoziem, disowned the purported sit-at-home, saying the directive did not get the approval of the IPOB leadership nor represent the position of the IPOB Directorate of State.

“In view of the foregoing, the Directorate of State of the Indigenous People of Biafra unequivocally states that it did not authorise anyone whatsoever to issue a lockdown sit-at-home order of Biafraland on Monday, February 2, 2026,” Edoziem stated.

Despite the clarification, security agencies in Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo, and other South-East states assured residents that measures were in place to safeguard lives, maintain law and order, and allow citizens to go about their lawful activities peacefully.

In Anambra State, the Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, convened an emergency meeting with all area and tactical commanders at the state headquarters in Awka on Sunday.

He directed the immediate intensification of intelligence-led patrols, proactive policing, and surveillance to prevent any threat to lives and property.

In a press statement released after the meeting, the CP urged residents to remain vigilant, discerning, united, and to resist divisive narratives.

“Following the security assessment of the implications, or otherwise, of full resumption of all social, commercial, and official activities in Anambra State on Mondays, the police command has identified a deliberate, recurring pattern of coordinated social media posts by some non-state actors aimed at spreading fear, misinformation, and bigotry among the public.

“These misleading narratives are intended to cause panic, undermine public confidence, and disrupt the peace currently enjoyed in the state.

“However, the command notes with confidence that Ndi Anambra have remained vigilant, discerning, and united, refusing to succumb to such divisive narratives.

“The resilience, cooperation, and timely sharing of credible information by residents continue to play a critical role in sustaining public order and safety.

“The police command has directed the immediate intensification of intelligence-led patrols, security surveillance, and proactive policing operations to forestall any threat to lives and property,” the statement read.

Earlier, the spokesman of the state police command, Tochukwu Ikenga, assured residents of their safety, urging them to go about their lawful business on Monday.

“The Anambra State police command, on behalf of all security agencies in the state, assures the public of its continued commitment to protecting lives and property and maintaining peace and security across the state,” Ikenga added.

In Ebonyi State, the police said it had put measures in place to protect lives and property.

The state police spokesperson, Joshua Ukandu, told our correspondent in Abakaliki, “We are prepared for this. We are not resting on our oars.

“Aside from our usual Monday patrols, we have put measures in place to ensure the security of lives and property. We urge members of the public to go about their lawful activities.”

The Imo State police command also assured residents that it had deployed forces in synergy with sister agencies to prevent any security breach.

State PPRO, Henry Okoye, said, “The measures already deployed are yielding significant results, as residents now go about their lawful businesses peacefully on Mondays and other days without intimidation.

The command urged Imolites to remain calm, law-abiding, and to promptly report any suspicious activities, as the police remain committed to the protection of lives and property in the state.”

According to Okoye, the police “Show of Force” and confidence-building patrols have helped assure residents of their safety. “Every Monday, we go for ‘Show of Force’ and confidence-building patrol, and this has helped to build back the confidence of citizens going about their local businesses.

“We will continue with our strategy. We will continue with confidence-building patrols on Monday, and raid suspected criminal hideouts,” Okoye said.

In Abia State, the Commissioner of Police, Danladi Isa, said, “Proactive measures have been emplaced as policemen have been deployed to strategic locations, including flash points, market areas, entry and exit points to forestall any anomaly.”

Also, Governor Alex Otti’s Special Adviser on Security Matters, Navy Commander MacDonald Ubah (retd.), told The PUNCH that the government would ensure the security of the lives and property of residents.

“We will continue to provide security for the lives and property. That is the work of the government,” he said.

Also, the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 34 Artillery Brigade, Owerri, Maj Hashimu Abdullahi, said the army had been working round-the-clock and would continue to safeguard residents.

Apart from routine show-of-force patrols, he declined to disclose operational plans.

“The 34 Artillery Brigade Owerri is committed to safety. The army is on alert, and the troops are making sure that everybody lives peacefully.

“Other operational measures involve coordination with all security agencies,” he said.

For residents of Owerri, the state capital, our correspondent observed that the sit-at-home cycle may be gradually winding down as schools, markets, and businesses, including banks, operate on Mondays, though they close earlier than usual. However, the cycle remains in force in hinterlands, especially Okigwe and Orlu zones, as people opt to stay indoors for their safety.

Efforts to reach the Commissioner for Information, Strategy, and Public Orientation, Declan Emelumba, were unsuccessful, as he did not answer calls made to his phone.