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165
BEYOND RELIGION AND ETHNICITY: Sit-At-Home and Freedom
Agitations among the Igbo in South-Eastern Nigeria
Ugochukwu Obumneme Ezewudo,1 Ikeagwuchi Ikechukwu Ukwuoma,2 Favour C. Uroko3*
Department of Religion and Cultural Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
*Email: favour.uroko@unn.edu.ng
Abstract
The concept of "sit-at-home" is a recent term used by freedom
agitators, particularly of Igbo extraction, to get the attention of
the Nigerian government to grant sovereignty to the Indigenous
people of Biafra. It is also a concept that challenges the authority
of the government while asking it to end marginalisation and to
release the leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, who was arrested and is
presently in the custody of the Department of State Services
(DSS). Sit-at-Home, particularly in Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Abia,
and Ebonyi (South-Eastern states of Nigeria), has been given
socio-political interpretation. Generally, politics is supposed to
be the machinery for resolving conflict and governing the people
sincerely. Unfortunately, it has become an agent of disunity in the
Nigerian state. This has led to several agitations in the past, but
they are more vocal in present times. The agitations for freedom
have often triggered violence and conflict between the
government and the freedom agitators, given room for the
marginalisation of certain regions, and consequently proved
Nigeria's government's inability to decide on behalf of the
governed. The methodology used in the study is a qualitative
phenomenological method. The study examines the challenges
and implications of the concept for the socio-economic, socio-
political, socio-cultural, and socio-religious lives of the people of
southeastern Nigeria. The paper observes that this face-off could
be resolved if the needs of the Igbo were critically examined and
attained. The paper calls on the government to organise a
dialogue and a referendum in order to end the menace in the
South-Eastern region.
Introduction
The British colonial masters amalgamated the Southern and Northern protectorates to
form the entity called Nigeria on January 1st, 1914. This action has been viewed as the major
cause of Nigeria’s problem and has given rise to different secessionist agendas. Many scholars
have questioned this action of the British led by Lord Frederick Lugard, and some have tagged it
as a combination of two unmixable elements such as water and oil. Many people and groups
MAHABBAH: Journal Religion and Education
Vol. 3, No. 2 (July 2022)
DOI: 10.47135/mahabbah.v3i2.51
Article History:
Received : 14 May 2021
Accepted : 30 July 2022
Keywords:
sit at home;
freedom;
agitations;
igbo;
south-east;
violence;
economy;
government.
MAHABBAH: Journal of Religion and Education
166
have, on the basis of this problem, often desired to liberate themselves. The Igbo people of
Nigeria are one of such entities who think that the union called ‘Nigeria’ is not favourable to
them and this ideology aligns with their belief in the essential role of "chi", which is stated in the
Igbo proverb that Onyekwe, chi yaekwe (when one says yes, his personal god says yes). This
expression functions as a motivator and force in Igbo social behaviour and is totally seen in their
attitude toward freedom from marginalization, and victimization, believing that their god will
also fight for them as long as they express the will to fight for themselves. However, the struggle
for freedom from the Nigerian government has given rise to conflict, protests, violence, and sit-
at-home tendencies. In fact, it was the hostility harboured by these never willing elements to
mix that threw the nation into witnessing civil war from May 30th 1967 to January 12th 1970.
The war was a terrible experience that culminated in the death and injury of many people, and
destruction and loss of property worth millions of naira. The reasons for the civil war, according
to Ugwueye, Umeanolue and Ihemekwala
1
and Oyewo
2
, are tribal incompatibility of the three
major tribes: Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba, and feelings of alienation. Also, the quest to control the
resources in Nigeria and the feelings of non-belongingness resulted in agitations, further
resulting in the military coup on January 15th, 1966, followed by counter attacks of bloodshed.
So, when Lieutenant Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu, on May 30th 1967, through the radio station,
declared the then eastern region a sovereign state of the Republic of Biafra (the land of the rising
sun), all hell was let loose on this particular tribe and nation (Igbo). At the time, the Igbo people
became a genocide target. Millions of Igbo died during the war and millions became refugees.
The civil war was estimated to have caused the deaths of about one million people, largely due to
malnutrition and disease.
3
This struggle for Biafra is still rooted in Igboland and every Igbo man
is a Biafran in spirit; he believes strongly in the Igbo spirit of independent hard work and
struggle to achieve success.
4
1
Luke, Ugwueye, Umeanolue Ikenna, and Ihemekwala Alex. “Israel’s Genocide on Amalek (1 Samuel 15)
and Jos Crisis in Nigeria: A Socio-Religious Discourse.” African Research Review 6, no.1 (2012): 223-236.
https://doi.org/10.4314/afrrev.v6i1.18.
2
Hussain Taofik Oyewo. “Threat of Secession: The Biafran Story. Conflict Trends 2019/3.” Accord, 17
November 2019. https://www.accord.org.za/conflict-trends/threat-of-secession. Accessed 28 November 2021.
3
World Peace Foundation. “Nigeria: Civil War.” Mass Atrocity Endings, 7 August 2015.
https://sites.tufts.edu/atrocityendings/2015/08/07/nigeria-civil-war/#Works%20Cited. Accessed 29 November
2021; see also Bridget Conley-Zilkic and Alex de Waal. "Setting the agenda for evidence-based research on ending
mass atrocities." Journal of Genocide Research 16, Iss. 1 (2014): 55-76. https://doi.org/10.1080/14623528.2014.878113.
4
Anayo Okoli, Chidi Nkwopara, Dennis Agbo, Chimaobi Nwaiwu, Ugochukwu Alaribe, Nwabueze
Okonkwo, Chinedu Adonu, Chinonso Alozie, Ikechukwu Odu, Steve Oko and Uchenna Ali. “How Monday Sit-At-
Beyond Religion and Ethnicity …Ezewudo, Ukwuoma, Uroko
167
From time to time, due to the imbalance of power at the national level and also the
failure to employ Igbo citizens in a proportional way in comparison to the other major tribes,
particularly the Hausa, there have been occasional conflicts and turmoil. However, it was
President Buhari’s health challenges that awoke the politics of secession again.Also, the
declaration on June 6, 2012, under the sponsorship of the Coalition of Arewa Youth, that Igbo
youths should vacate Northern Nigeria before October 1, 2012, further heightened the tensions
and the social distance among Nigerians.
5
The people of the South-East began to agitate for the
independence of the Republic of Biafra once again, a situation that has created a volatile
environment. Igbo people who believe in Ikenga, which is a symbol of strength, by this renewed
quest show that they cannot be defeated even though they surrendered during the civil war.
Consequently, the people were once again saying that the surrender in 1970 did not mean the
end of the fight for the independence of Biafra and, as such, ‘they lived to fight another day’.
According to Uwalaka, Igbo people feel like proud fighters because the war ‘brought out the
best in the Igbos (sic) endurance, creativity, adaptability, indomitable will to be, sense of
solidarity, sense of common cause, collaboration and vigilance’.
6
It should be clear that freedom agitation is not peculiar to the Igbo but is a global
phenomenon. Adibe
7
asserted that such movements are seen in the 300-year-old Scottish
separatism movement and the long-time Quebec separatism in Canada. Thus, it is not unusual
for some form of separatist agitation to form in low-trust, multi-ethnic, and multicultural
societies such as Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, and Morocco and even
Spain, in the form of Catalonia.
8
This kind of separatist movement is not new in Nigeria.
Currently, the agitation and movement are led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the
proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who has been detained for nearly one year on
several charges, which include treason, terrorism, and operating a pirate radio, Radio Biafra.
Home is Affecting South-East Economy.” Vanguard, 25 August 2021. https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/08/how-
monday-sit-at-home-is-affecting-south-east-economy/amp. Accessed 8 August 2021.
5
Jideofor Adibe. “Separatist Agitations in Nigeria: Causes and Trajectories.” Africa in Focus, 12July 2017.
https://Www.Brookings.Edu/Blog/Africa-In-Focus/2017/07/12/Separatist-Agitations-In-Nigeria-Causes-And-
Trajectories. Accessed 28 November 2021.
6
Lawrence Okwuosa, Chinyere T. Nwaoga, and Favour Uroko. “The Post-War Era in Nigeria and the
Resilience of Igbo Communal System.’” Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies 13, no.1 (2021): a867.
https://doi.org/10.4102/jamba.v13i1.867.
7
Jideofor Adibe. “Separatist Agitations in Nigeria: Causes and Trajectories.”
8
Ciaran Giles and Aritz Parra. “Spain: Top Court Officially Rules Catalan Referendum Illegal.” Chicago
Tribune, 17 October 2017. https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-catalonia-spain-independence-
20171017-story.html. retrieved 9 August 2021.
MAHABBAH: Journal of Religion and Education
168
Kanu was refused bail, despite several court rulings granting him bail, but he later jumped bail
and fled to the United Kingdom, even though Kanu’s special counsel was quoted to have said
that his client did not actually jump bail as accused, citing the prevailing scenario in Kanu’s
hometown under which he escaped for his dear life and personal safety as sufficient enough to
deny such an accusation.
9
However, what is clear enough is that the refusal of the Nigerian government to grant
him bail turned him into an international figure, and people all over Nigeria talked about him.
Thus, it can be said that the tension for the sovereign state of Biafra became prominent when
Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, jumped bail and moved
to the United Kingdom, only to be brought back some years later from Kenya and detained by
the Department of State Security, DSS, in Abuja. The body (IPOB) introduced sit-at-home as a
measure to draw the attention of the government to its demands despite the educational,
economic, social, political, and religious challenges to human society, especially in the south-
eastern zone. The non-appearance of Kanu in court and the refusal of the federal government of
Nigeria to release him made members of IPOB, through the media and publicity secretary of the
group, Comrade Emma Powerful, to declare that every Monday would be sit-at-home until Kanu
is released from detention.
10
This action has destabilized the region hence Okoliet
11
observed
that sit-at-home inflict more problems to the people already burdened with lots of hardship and
are urging IPOB to adopt another method that will not be very injurious on the Igbo as the
struggles continue. Apart from the agitation for independence of the Republic of Biafra, there are
other secessionist groups in Nigeria calling for independence, such as the Oduduwa Republic,
the Arewa Republic, and the Niger Delta Republic. Some of these groups have received outright
rejection from the natives.
12
However, what is common to all these secessionist groups is that
9
Gordi Udeajah. “Kanu did not jump bail, says lawyer.” The Guardian, 27 July 2021.
https://guardian.ng/features/law/kanu-did-not-jump-bail-says-lawyer/
10
Vincent Ujumadu. “Sit-At-Home: IPOB Exploiting the Docility of Igbo.” Vanguard, 21 August 2021.
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/08/sit-at-home-ipob-exploiting-the-docility-of-igbo. Accessed 29 November
2021.
11
Anayo Okoli, Chidi Nkwopara, Dennis Agbo, Chimaobi Nwaiwu, Ugochukwu Alaribe, Nwabueze
Okonkwo, Chinedu Adonu, Chinonso Alozie, Ikechukwu Odu, Steve Oko and Uchenna Ali. “How Monday Sit-At-
Home is Affecting South-East Economy.”
12
Emmanuel Ani. “Oduduwa Republic: Group Rejects Secession Move, Tackles Igboho, Kanu.” Daily Post, 6
May 2021. https://dailypost.ng/2021/05/06/oduduwa-republic-group-rejects-secession-move-tackles-igboho-kanu.
Accessed 29 November 2021.
Beyond Religion and Ethnicity …Ezewudo, Ukwuoma, Uroko
169
they all arose as a result of corruption, bad leadership, and marginalisation bedevilling the state
of Nigeria.
13
Due to the marginalisation of the eastern region and alienation, IPOB agitates and calls
for all Igbo in the region to observe sit-at-home in solidarity for the release of their leader,
Nnamdi Kanu. Many Igbo support Igbo because of the amount of global awareness they have
brought to the plight of Igbo. For instance, the former governor of Anambra State,
Chukwuemeka Ezeife, led others to court as a mark of solidarity. Also, a group under the aegis of
the Highly Respected Igbo Greats, led by First Republic parliamentarian and Minister of
Aviation, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, visited President Mohammad Buhari at the State House,
Abuja, calling for the release of Nnamdi Kanu. The response of the presidency to this plea was
cited by Adenekan,
14
to wit: "You’ve made an extremely difficult demand on me as leader of this
country. The implication of your request is very serious. In the last six years, since I became
President, nobody would say I have confronted or interfered in the work of the Judiciary. At this
age, God has spared you, and given you a clear head with a very sharp memory. A lot of people
half your age are confused already. But the demand you made is heavy. I will consider it." Igbo
people were looking forward to the release of Nnamdi Kanu, which they believed would end Sit-
At-Home in the south-east region. Unfortunately, despite the plea of this notable Nigerian and
others, force was adopted as a measure by the Federal Government to handle the socio-political
and security challenges in the south-east region, a measure which inflated the situation. Hence,
this paper holds that force is not the best measure to handle the socio-economic and security
challenges in the region and that the government should give a listening ear and adopt proactive
measures for the peace, progress, prosperity, and development of the region and for the nation at
large, while insisting that there is a need for dialogue and referendum.
The Need for Freedom Agitators
Igbo people are agitating for freedom, freedom from dehumanization, marginalization,
victimization, and alienation. These challenges have lasted for more than 40 years after the civil
13
John Campbell and Nolan Quinn. “what’s Behind Growing Separatism in Nigeria?” Council on Foreign
Relitions, August 3, 2021. https://www.cfr.org/article/whats-behind-growing-separatism-nigeria. Accessed 28
November 2021
14
Samson Adenekan. “Igbo leaders meet Buhari, want Nnamdi Kanu released.” Premium Times 19 November
2021. https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-east/496261-igbo-leaders-meet-buhari-want-nnamdi-
kanu-released.html. Accessed 28 November 2021.
MAHABBAH: Journal of Religion and Education
170
war. Some authors have noted that the reasons for such challenges are that the Hausa and
Fulani still believe that the Igbo are the brains behind the first military coup that saw many
prominent northern politicians killed. The Hausa also see the Igbo as the cause of their
backwardness and trouble with Nigeria. Besides, the Nigeria-Biafra War, in which the Igbo
were defeated even though the Nigerian government declared that there was no victor or
vanquished, pitted the Igbo against all the other parts of the country.
15
More so, the Igbo people
are often perceived as naturally loud, adventurous, and proud people, and this does not go well
with other ethnic groups in Nigeria.
16
The agitators therefore do not consider themselves part of
the union called ‘Nigeria’ and so demand self-determination; the release of IPOB leader, Nnamdi
Kanu; and a referendum. One may ask: Does the leadership of various agitators really know what
they are fighting for? Do the wishes reflect people’s wishes? Or are they fighting for their
personal interests or for the interests of the people in that particular region? The case of the
agitation for the independence of the Biafra Republic has been a major issue in recent times. As
has been stated already, it has drawn international attention to the plight of the people of
Eastern Nigeria. Underdevelopment of the region and inability to resolve grievances of the
region have contributed to the massive agitations voicing the incompetency of the government,
both federal and state, to address the economic and political development of Igboland. Adibe
17
observed that structural disparity has resulted in unfairness, injustice, and conflict between the north
and the south. For instance, according to him, the northern part of the country constitutes about
79 percent of the country’s land mass and an estimated 53.6 percent of its population. The north
is, however, much poorer than the south and similarly lags behind the south in education and
other modern indices of development. For this reason, some people in the north believe that the
region should control a majority, if not all, of governmental power, an ideology that has over the
years not settled with the Igbo.
The present Igbo feelings of insecurity with such ideology conformed to the speech of
Ojukwu that the people’s lives and properties can no longer be protected by any government
15
Lasse Heerten and Dirk Moses. “The Nigeria-Biafra War: Post-Colonial Conflict and the Question of
Genocide.” Journal of Genocide Research 16, Issue 2-3 (2014): 169-203. https://doi.org/10.1080/14623528.2014.936700.
16
Lawrence Okwuosa, Chinyere T. Nwaoga, and Favour Uroko. “The Post-War Era in Nigeria and the
Resilience of Igbo Communal System.’”
17
Jideofor Adibe. “Separatist Agitations in Nigeria: Causes and Trajectories.”
Beyond Religion and Ethnicity …Ezewudo, Ukwuoma, Uroko
171
based outside eastern Nigeria and that it shall repel any interference in its internal affairs.
18
The
clear aim of IPOB is to restore the independent state of Biafra, which was crushed during the
1967-1970 Biafra-Nigeria Civil War. To make its case more precise, IPOB noted the disparity in
the current president’s appointments, where only 8% are from the five south-east states. This
made Mr. Powerful to state that the Igbo are suffering more than neglect; they are hated. Indeed,
the IPOB issue extends beyond neglect to include resource distribution and a power struggle.
Earlier in the year 2007, Ralph Uwazuruike, the leader of MASSOB, had given his reason for
agitating for the sovereign nation of Biafra to be that "there is a lot of tribalism here and we
cannot allow our people to be treated like slaves in their own land." In recent times, however,
some people have condemned the move for secession, claiming that the IPOB leader was a mere
opportunist who sought to make a name for himself after his fallout with Uwazuruike. It has
even been claimed that the Igbos are the architects of their own problems, since before Ojukwu
came up with the Biafra idea in 1967, the Igbo were at the commanding heights in every area of
human endeavour.
19
Many have likened this movement to the northern Boko Haram. For instance, a security
expert, Jack Vince, noted that the two movements have more similarities than differences. This
understanding is based on the fact that the arrest of the leaders of these groups brought them
into prominence and the use of force in handling the members of the groups caused them to
rebel against the ruling government. Even though Vince added that as Boko Haram kills people
in uniform, so does IPOB, it remains to be seen whether the claim that IPOB is responsible for
the killing of people in security outfits is true as the group has never taken responsibility for
such acts in the south-east, whereas in the north, Boko Haram proudly claims responsibility for
the many nefarious acts committed in that region.
20
18
Chinedu Asadu. “Flashback: The Biafra Declaration by Ojukwu and how the Civil War Ended.” The Cable:
news and niews unlimited, 2020. https://www.thecable.ng/flashback-the-biafra-declaration-by-ojukwu-and-how-the-
civil-war-ended/amp. Accessed 29 November 2021.
19
Lawal Ogienagbon. “A Wrong Path.” The Nation, 21 September 2017. https://thenationonline.net/a-wrong-
path/amp. Accessed 9 August 2021.
20
Chinedu Asadu. “Nigeria: ‘You cannot use force to solve every problem’ in crushing secessionists, says
analyst.” The Africa Report, 16 April 2021. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.theafricareport.com/79271/nigeria-
you-cannot-use-force-to-solve-every-problem-in-crushing-ipob-secessionists-says-analyst/amp. Accessed 30
November 2021.
MAHABBAH: Journal of Religion and Education
172
Understanding Sit-At-Home and Government Response
Sit-at-home indicates a peaceful but firm protest for the release of the Indigenous People
of Biafra leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and for the sovereignty of the land of the rising sun, Biafra.
During this period, everybody is advised to stay indoors in total compliance. All markets,
schools, motor parks, airports, and public places in Biafra Land were expected to be shut down
from morning to evening. Largely, the sit-at-home takes place every Monday; on the day IPOB
marks ‘heroes’ remembrance day, which also extended to the very day Nnamdi Kanu was
presented in court for trial. Recently, the IPOB declared Friday 5th November to Tuesday 9th
November, 2021 sit-at-home as a way of calling the attention of the Federal Government of
Nigeria to release its leader unconditionally, to give a date for the Biafra referendum and also to
attract the international community to the plight of the people of Biafra.
Nevertheless, the government's response to the agitations of IPOB and its sit-at-home
order has not been encouraging. For instance, the South-East Governors Forum on Tuesday 5th
October, 2021 condemned Monday’s sit-at-home order given by the proscribed Indigenous
People of Biafra (IPOB) and growing insecurity in the region.
21
In Abia State, the home state of
the leader of the Indigenous people of Biafra, Governor OkezieIkpeazu asked the people of the
state to go about their lawful duties and businesses, adding that security agents were on the
ground to arrest those who might want to breach the peace in the state. Nwosu
22
cites the
words of the Governor, in his broadcast to mark the 30th Anniversary of the state, "Once again, I
implore us all to resume our normal economic and social activities without fear of victimisation
while assuring us all that the Abia State Government has put modalities in place in conjunction
with security agencies to ensure the safety and security of everyone going about their legitimate
endeavours". The governor also noted that there is no need to engage with IPOB for they are not
as bad as the ones in the Northeast or northwest who go to schools and seize the whole
population of teachers and students or invade the mosques and churches and kidnap all the
worshippers and nobody can find them until ransom is paid.
23
Similarly, the Enugu State
21
Aina Ojonugwa. “South East Govs Condemn Sit-At-Home Orders, Killings.” The Will, 5 October 2021.
https://thewillnigeria.com/news/south-east-govs-condemn-sit-at-home-orders-killings. Accessed 9 August 2021.
22
Uche Nwosu. “Ikpeazu Urges AbiansTo Shun IPOB’s Sit-At-Home Order Every Monday.” Independent, 27
August 2021. https://independent.ng/ikpeazu-urges-abians-to-shun-ipobs-sit-at-home-order-every-monday.
Accessed 30 November 2021.
23
Bridget Chiedu Onochie and Abuja Bureau Chief. “Sit-At-Home: Igbo Group Blames Government’s
Apathy for Compliance, Insecurity in South East.” The Guardian 17 September 2021. https://guardian.ng/news/sit-at-
Beyond Religion and Ethnicity …Ezewudo, Ukwuoma, Uroko
173
government asked its residents to ignore the sit-at-home stating that the IPOB order had no
constituted power backing it.
24
The government assured its residents of adequate machinery in
place to ensure that lives and properties were secured. The government further added that the
sit-at-home merely imposed hardship on the citizens. On its part, the Anambra government
warned its workers to ensure that they are found at their offices in order to get paid, or else sit-
at-home and lose their August salary. The governor also ordered banks; traders, and transporters
to commence complete and uninterrupted economic and business activities from Monday; if not,
they will face the wrath of his government.
25
The governor also said that the sit-at-home
compliance adversely affected the Gross Domestic Product and the general economy of the state,
stating that banks that failed to open on such days would be sealed for a week, adding that if
such banks refused to open subsequently, they would be permanently closed.
26
In Imo State, the
government, through the state commissioner of police, further added that it was going to back
its workers with security to resist sit-at-home. Thus, the government of the south-east states
and police commands asked that residents ignore the IPOB order and go about their legitimate
businesses. This order and counter order created confusion in the minds of citizens; a confusion
the federal government of Nigeria, on its part, has so far done little to nothing to manage
effectively and instead handled the agitations for self-determination in the country in what can
best be described as high-handedness or inaction. After the August experience came the
Monday sit-at-home and then the addition of certain days. Even when announcements are made
suspending sit-at-home, people still observe the sit-at-home order as streets, markets, offices,
motor parks, and banks are closed and deserted every Monday. Two reasons seem to give basic
to this. First, the people are afraid of being attacked by hoodlums and miscreants, masquerading
as IPOB members. Two, most people have some sympathy for IPOB’s cause. Further, with the
government’s failure to act amidst the killings and burning of properties, the people have lost
home-igbo-group-blames-governments-apathy-for-compliance-insecurity-in-south-east. Accessed 28 November
2021.
24
Dennis Agbo. “Sit-At-Home: Enugu Gov’t carpets IPOB’s order, tells residents to go about their
businesses.” The Vanguard, 8 August 2021. https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/08/sit-at-home-enugu-govt-carpets-
ipobs-order-tells-residents-to-go-about-their-businesses. Accessed 29 November 2021.
25
Sahara Reporters. “New York, September 11, 2021, Obey IPOB’s Sit-at-home And Face Government's
Wrath – Anambra Governor Warns Residents, Banks.” Sahara, 11 September 2021.
https://saharareporters.com/2021/09/11/obey-ipob%E2%80%99s-sit-home-and-face-governments-wrath-
%E2%80%93-anambra-governor-warns-residents-banks. Accessed 29 November 2021.
26
Tony Okafor. “Punch Gov Obiano leads protest against IPOB sit-at-home order.” Punch, 13 September
2021. https://punchng.com/breaking-gov-obiano-leads-protest-against-ipob-sit-at-home-order. Accessed 10 August
2021.
MAHABBAH: Journal of Religion and Education
174
hope in the government of the day, and so fear does not allow the people to come out and risk
their lives and investments.
Implications of Sit At Home and Freedom Agitation in Igboland
When on August 9, 2021, IPOB declared sit-at-home, noting it is sacrosanct, the whole
region of the south-east became perplexed, knowing the implications for its residents, who are
basically traders. The calls to sit-at-home were as a result of the opinion that Igbo people have
not really tackled the problem of their marginalization; and have neglected their roles in the
political practises of the nation. However, some people see sit at home as unfavourable to the
Igbo course because of its economic, educational, political, and religious challenges. So, when
the one week sit-at-home began on November 5th, markets were under lock, including the
roadside shops. The transport companies did not move, and the banks and other private offices
were locked. Kanunta also noted the body’s awareness of some other implications of the sit-at-
home order, including social, economic, academic, and religious implications.
The Economic Implications
Violent protests, agitations and clashes with security agencies have helped to impoverish
Igboland through the destruction of properties worth millions. Sit-at-home and poor-toxic
security environments discourage foreign inventors from coming to the area for business. For
example, Onitsha's main market and Aba market were shut down in solidarity with Nnamdi
Kanu.
27
These two markets are the pride of Igboland. Also, the government loses million every
Monday, the day Nnamdi will appear in court. Besides, the situation affects the financial
capacity and income of the people of the region.
28
Thus, both the government and the people are
affected economically. In his contribution, the Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province
Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Emmanuel Chukwuma, said that shutting down the
South East region this time would destroy their economy and impoverish the Igbo. For him, he
27
Nwanosike Onu, Damian Duruiheoma, Chris Njoku, Sunny Nwankwo and Emma Elekwa. “IPOB Sit-At-
Home: Onitsha, Aba Markets Shut Again.” The Nation, 23 November 2021. https://thenationonlineng.net/ipob-sit-at-
home-onitsha-aba-markets-shut-again. Accessed 28 November 2021.
28
Edward Nnachi, Raphael Ede, Chidiebere Okeoma, and Tony Okafor. “IPOB Sit-At-Home Continues
Despite Suspension, South-East Traders, Others Lament Huge Losses to Protest." Punch, 4 September 2021.
https://punchng.com/ipob-sit-at-home-continues-despite-suspension-south-east-traders-others-lament-huge-
losses-to-protest. Accessed 29 November 2021.
Beyond Religion and Ethnicity …Ezewudo, Ukwuoma, Uroko
175
calls on all pro-Biafra groups to have a rethink on the continued lockdown, since it will further
impoverish the people, who are mostly traders, and create more hunger in the land. According to
him, Igbos in the South-East "just struggle each day to make a living and have something to put
bread on their tables. The move will be unfair to us, Ndigbo, who are engaged in various
businesses. If carried out, it is wrong since when you are locking up your zone or region, other
zones will be engaging in their businesses and daily human activities meant for their growth and
progress. It is a way of destroying the economies of our brothers. We must be very careful about
the way we are going about it. I also do not totally support it as many of our traders are in
trouble already due to the COVID-19 lockdown and what they lost. It cannot be debunked that
the close down of personal businesses inflicts more problems on the people already burdened
with lots of hardship since the majority feed on daily earnings. For this reason, the former
chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Okwesilieze Nwodo said that the impact of
the sit-at-home is not the best for Igbo. The Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province
Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma observed that sit-at-home
destroys the region’s economy and impoverishes the Igbo. The chambers of commerce, business
owners and traders have put their losses at about 8 billion naira. The first vice president of
Nnewi Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NCCIMA), Chief Moses
Ezukwo, said the development has robbed the South-East zone of over 50bn so far, adding that
the loss in the private sector amounted to over 60 percent. The transport sector loses at least
6bn any day there is a lockdown in the region.
29
Based on the negative impact of sit-at-home, the former national chairman of the Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP, OkwesiliezeNwodo, has urged the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB,
to rescind the call to lockdown the South East every Monday, because it is not best for Igbo. It
would further deteriorate the economy of the zone. He also urged IPOB to find other measures of
showing their solidarity for their leader, such as turning out en masse any day Kanu would appear
in court. He also urged the Igbo to embark on massive and aggressive social media campaigns to
demand for her freedom instead of locking down the zone. In support of this fact, a prominent
Abia monarch, the traditional ruler of Abiriba Ancient Kingdom, EzeKalu Ogbu, Enachioken
Abiriba cautioned that the action would compound the economic woes of Ndigbo. Enachioken,
29
Anayo Okoli, Chidi Nkwopara, Dennis Agbo, Chimaobi Nwaiwu, Ugochukwu Alaribe, Nwabueze
Okonkwo, Chinedu Adonu, Chinonso Alozie, Ikechukwu Odu, Steve Oko and Uchenna Ali. “How Monday Sit-At-
Home is Affecting South-East Economy.”
MAHABBAH: Journal of Religion and Education
176
who strongly condemned the high-handedness of the Federal Government in handling the
agitations for self-determination in the country, however, said that locking down the entire
South East every Monday would not be in the economic interest of the region already suffering
protracted exclusion. He regretted that the Federal Government seemed to be nonchalant about
the danger signals.
30
Political Implications
The quest for power at the centre and state has made the Igbo political class not fight for
their rights, which has led to internal division and a lack of communal commitment. The Igbo
communal system and sense of brotherhood, which serve as uniting factors, have been affected.
The order to observe sit-at-home has indeed conformed to the Igbo people's expression that Igbo
enweeze meaning Igbo people have no king. The Igbo conceive the community as a source of
strength, greatness, and success for the individual Igbo person. Hence, an individual’s success is
seen as that of the community, and the success of an individual does not extricate the individual
from the community because the community’s approval is always necessary and sought for. In
fact, Igbo people are radical republicans or ultra-democratic in their social and political
organization. The community is supreme and meaningful to every Igbo person. That’s why the
order to observe sit-at-home can be seen as a collective effort by all Igbo in the region.
31
However, a South-east socio-cultural organisation (Igbonine), through its president, High Chief
Emeka Okonkwo, has come out to say that the continuous sit-at-home order compliance in the
region shows the failure of politicians to address the issue of insecurity. The body noted that
"sit-at-home" is not synonymous with the Igbo people and their culture. The president also
stated that compliance was as a result of the distrust that citizens have for their leaders.
32
30
Anayo Okoli, Chidi Nkwopara, Dennis Agbo, Chimaobi Nwaiwu, Ugochukwu Alaribe, Nwabueze
Okonkwo, Chinedu Adonu, Chinonso Alozie, Ikechukwu Odu, Steve Oko and Uchenna Ali. “How Monday Sit-At-
Home is Affecting South-East Economy.”
31
Lawrence Okwuosa, Chinyere T. Nwaoga, and Favour Uroko. “The Post-War Era in Nigeria and the
Resilience of Igbo Communal System.’”
32
Bridget Chiedu Onochie and Abuja Bureau Chief. “Sit-At-Home: Igbo Group Blames Government’s
Apathy for Compliance, Insecurity in South East.” The Guardian 17 September 2021. https://guardian.ng/news/sit-at-
home-igbo-group-blames-governments-apathy-for-compliance-insecurity-in-south-east. Accessed 28 November
2021.
Beyond Religion and Ethnicity …Ezewudo, Ukwuoma, Uroko
177
Educational Implication
The sit-at-home was publicised by IPOB’s Media and publicity Secretary, Emma
Powerful, but later Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s younger brother, Kanunta Kanu, released a statement
saying that the planned sit-at-home order had been cancelled due to the pleas from well-
meaning students, Nigerians, and groups within and outside Igbo land for their children to
participate in the National Examinations Council (NECO) examination for junior secondary
schools. In some of the south-eastern states, students have been made to stay indoors and skip
school on Mondays due to the Monday sit-at-home order, which is fully effective in Enugu,
Anambra, Abia, and Imo. As a result, some schools in this region have compelled their teachers
and students to come to work on Saturdays for academic lessons, thereby depriving students
and teachers of their rest day and attending other activities usually undertaken on Saturday.
Speaking concerning the academic implications, Kanunta said that IPOB realized the academic
deprivation the already marginalized Biafra students would suffer adding that it would amount
to assisting enemies of Biafra to inflict more injuries on her children.
33
In Nsukka, the vicinity of
the prestigious University of Nigeria, there are usually few vehicle movements on Mondays and
any other day that IPOB declares as sit-at-home. The shuttle buses are usually not found
operating on the days of sit-at-home out of fear that mayhem may occur; the university was
closed and students whose exams still went on or who had classes and other things to engage in
the university community had to walk long distances where the exam still went on as scheduled.
Again, the world watched a video of unknown gunmen shooting sporadically, chasing students
of Comprehensive School, Nkume in the Njaba local government area of Imo State and
invigilators out of the examination hall and even destroying part of the school building (Uzoari
2021). All these affect the school system and calendars.
Militarization
Militarization of the South-east can also be linked and attributed to sit-at-home in Igbo
land. Today, the military is found on the streets instead of the barracks even when there is no
war in Igbo land. This has led to havoc and insecurity and the arrest of innocent civilians under
the claim that they are causing disorder and inciting hate. More so, many masked groups have
33
Vincent Ujumadu, Chimaobi Nwaiwu, UgochukwuAlaribe, ChinonsoAlozie and NwabuezeOknonkwo.
“Confusion Over IPOB’s Sit-At-Home Order.” Vanguard, 9 Agustus 2021.
https://vanguardngr.com/2021/084/confusion-over-ipobs-sit-at-home/amp. Accessed 28 November 2021
MAHABBAH: Journal of Religion and Education
178
capitalised on the proscription of IPOB to carry out heinous activities such as burning of
vehicles and houses, gunmen killings, robbery and looting of shops and banks. This situation has
caused establishments to take precaution by choosing to keep their places locked and closed for
business and transactions. For instance, in Enugu, hoodlums attacked a bus distributing bread
around the old Orie-Emene market. It was gathered that the driver escaped by whiskers, but the
bus, fully loaded with loaves of bread, was looted and the bus set ablaze by the hoodlums.
34
Similarly, a tricycle operator on Arthur Eze Road in Awka was stopped, matchet and his tricycle
burnt to ashes. In another case, also in Anambra, a town service bus was also said to have been
attacked by individuals believed to be enforcing the IPOB order. Sources said that the
passengers were spared as they were asked to disembark before the bus was lit ablaze.
35
In
Enugu state, precisely at a place called Eluagu-Obukpa, Ede
36
reports that a trailer conveying
spare parts worth about 30 million was also set ablaze, while in Imo state, gunmen staged a
prison break. These are being done and crafted to make it appear that it is Igbo boys or IPOB
destroying Igbo land.
Contrarily, IPOB denies that they are not the ones committing these acts against
humanity, stating that they cannot be part of the problem they are trying to resolve. It was in
response to these problems in the south-east, particularly the prison brakes, that governors and
stakeholders of the region held a meeting and announced on April 11, 2021, the creation of a new
regional security outfit named Ebubeagu.
37
Further, sometime ago, a video emerged online of
Nigerian Army personnel on a shooting expedition in some parts of Enugu state in the guise of
foiling the evil activities of IPOB members and miscreants. Though the Chief of Army Staff
(COAS), lieutenant general Yahayafaruk, denied the involvement of its personnel in the invasion
of the Mgbowo community, there are public outcries that the incident should be thoroughly
34
Hammed Salahudeen. “Sit-At-Home: Hoodlums Attack Bus Loaded with Bread, Destroy Tricycles in
Enugu.” Intelregion, 14 September 2021. https://www.intelregion.com/news/sit-at-home-hoodlums-attack-bus-
loaded-with-bread-destroy-tricycles-in-enugu. Accessed 30 November 2021.
35
Joe Chukindi. “Sit-at-Home: Suspected IPOB Members Set Tricycle, Passenger Bus Ablaze in Anambra.”
Daily Post, 14 September 2021. https://dailypost.ng/2021/09/14/sit-at-home-suspected-ipob-members-set-tricycle-
passenger-bus-ablaze-in-anambra. Accessed 28 November 2021.
36
Ede, Raphael. “Hoodlums Burn Trailer Carrying Spare parts for Disobeying IPOB’s Sit-at-Home.” Punch, 6
September 2021. https://www.punchng.com/hoodlums-burn-trailer-carrying-spare-parts-for-disobeying-ipobs-sit-
at-home. Accessed 29 November 2022.
37
Lawrence Njoku. “S’East PDP Deplores Formation of EbubeAgu Security Outfit in Ebonyi.” The Guardian,
6 May 2021. https://guardian.ng/news/seast-pdp-deplores-formation-of-ebube-agu-security-outfit-in-ebonyi.
Accessed 29 November 2021.
Beyond Religion and Ethnicity …Ezewudo, Ukwuoma, Uroko
179
investigated.
38
If the trend continues, the end result would only be the emergence of an
insurgency in the south-east, which this paper argues is the aim of the Nigerian government as
this would enable them to fully employ the Nigerian security in the region. The effect such
action will have on the region might just be unprecedented.
Exclusion
Aside from the economic hardship faced by residents of the south-east region, the sit-at-
home has further heightened the exclusion already suffered by its residents. Ogienagbon
39
wrote
that the Igbo are not the only marginalised group in Nigeria, and so the claim that they are being
maltreated cannot be justified. He also said that the Igbo became successful people in commerce,
politics, and the military because they enjoyed the support of others around them and did not
depend solely on themselves to survive. In the final analysis, the author said that the Igbo are
suffering exclusion today because they thought they could bring about Biafra.
A phenomenal analysis on Dialogue and Referendum
The sit-at-home proves that all is not well in Nigeria. It also shows the lack of dialogue
and the inability of the federal government to protect its citizens. Dialogue could be achieved
when the Federal Government addresses the challenges of the South-Eastern region using the
available resources. "Media campaigns, diplomacy, and dialogue should be employed as
alternatives to violence towards the actualization of Biafra through properly channelled
agitation," Joseph Ozibo, an Ozo title holder, advised. Besides, it would not do any good for the
government of the day to keep tagging secessionist movements as ‘hooligans, thugs, and evil-
minded individuals seeking to destroy the unity of Nigeria. Over time, the government has often
said that the "unity of Nigeria is un-negotiable," a statement that is not only irrational but
displays unwillingness to dialogue. The use of militarization to end secessions has not worked
38
Seun Opejobi. “ESN: Soldiers Behaved like Bandits in Enugu, probe them-HURIWA to COAS,
Ugwuanyi.” Daily Post, 4 November 2021. https://www. dailypost.ng/2021/11/04/esn-soldiers-behaved-like-bandits-
in-enugu-probe-them-huriwa-to-coas-ugwuanyi.
39
Lawal Ogienagbon. “A Wrong Path.”
MAHABBAH: Journal of Religion and Education
180
and will never work, but would only succeed in creating casualties, ethnic tensions, and even
insurgency. Recently, two members of the house senate worked out of a meeting because of the
refusal of a senate chairman committee to give the two senators room to quiz army personnel on
lopsided army recruitment. Giving heed to the worries of the south-east will go a long way in
limiting, if not ending, suspicion among the ethnic groups. Onah Sunday, a onetime chairman of
the Nigerian union of teachers, NUT, Ohaukwu chapter, also said that agitation in the south-
eastern region is an age-long quest but said that the best possible approach, for now, should be
diplomacy.
40
A referendum is a direct popular vote on a proposed law with the aim of knowing
people’s choices. Through this medium, it will be tested whether the leaders of the secessionist
groups actually reflect the wishes of those they claim they represent and want to liberate.
Unfortunately, the government of Nigeria always writes this option off under the claim that its
unity cannot be negotiated. The paper recommends this medium as a way of giving an
opportunity to nationals who want to secede to decide their fate. Even though one can argue
that such a measure and its achievements can lead to more secessionist claims, one must agree
that it will show the varying parts of a nation that it has its benefits at heart.
Recommendations
1. The Federal government should use available resources to address the challenges and
grievances of the IPOB in order to unite different regions of the country.
2. The militarization of the south-east Nigeria is not the best solution to end agitations.
3. IPOB should do a proper assessment of sit-at-home and find a better way of improving the
economy to avoid hunger in the land.
4. All Igbos should be law-abiding and avoid any act that might lead to a breakdown of law and
order.
5. Individuals should desist from attacking buses and outlets.
40
Anayo Okoli, Chidi Nkwopara, Dennis Agbo, Chimaobi Nwaiwu, Ugochukwu Alaribe, Nwabueze
Okonkwo, Chinedu Adonu, Chinonso Alozie, Ikechukwu Odu, Steve Oko and Uchenna Ali. “How Monday Sit-At-
Home is Affecting South-East Economy.”
Beyond Religion and Ethnicity …Ezewudo, Ukwuoma, Uroko
181
Conclusion
Igboland witnessed and survived the civil war between 1967 and 1970, which resulted in
the loss of lives and properties. Up to today, the region is still experiencing marginalisation from
the Nigerian government. The freedom agitators perceive that the only way to overcome this
dehumanization, marginalization, and victimisation is to call for a sovereign state of Biafra and a
referendum, and they employ sit-at-home all over South-Eastern Nigeria, with the aim of
drawing the attention of the current administration and international bodies to rescue them
from the oppressive government. Such claims are a fundamental human right, and the
government of Nigeria needs to do more than try to quell the agitation. The Federal
Government's inability to reconstruct the southeast region of the country as promised after the
war has become a serious challenge. Igbo people are facing a lot of challenges in the Nigerian
polity, and these are what have led to some agitations and sit-at-home. The paper noted that the
Nigerian polity is no longer favourable to Igboland and accessed several implications of the sit-
at-home policy. The paper therefore concludes that the best approach is to call for dialogue and
a referendum.
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