The group claimed that it issued the order in response to its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who is scheduled to appear in court on January 18, 19, and 20, 2022 at the Umuahia High Court.
It stated that the sit-at-home was only for January 18 and that individuals were free to go about their normal activities on January 19 and 20.
Confirming its stand on the order, the group’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, on Sunday, said, “Following our leader’s upcoming court proceedings on January 18, 19 and 20, 2022, we wish to remind Biafrans that there will be only sit-at-home on January 18 and not 19 and 20.
“In keeping with our avowed solidarity with our leader, the entire South-East will be on lockdown only on January 18 for obvious reasons.”
He said anyone found enforcing sit-at-home on January 17 is a criminal and must be treated as such, saying that IPOB leadership had already canceled it and it must be obeyed.
Mr. C-Don Adinuba, the Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, on Sunday said that the administration is unaware of any sit-at-home and that people should disregard them.
Despite the government’s assurances to the people of adequate protection, Adinuba claimed they have continued to witness the illegal sit-at-home, claiming that there is nothing the government can do because it cannot force the people out.
He said, “Our position and the position of every government in the South-East is that people have to be law-abiding and comply with the law. The government has provided adequate security needed and it is now left for them to go about their normal business but whereby they have refused, the government cannot force them to come out.”
An Onitsha resident, Mrs. Comfort Nnachi, a civil servant, expressed her excitement, saying that the exercise would enable her to rest very well and carry out some house chores.
Travelers have besieged various motor parks in Anambra in a bid to escape being trapped on those days.
The Onitsha River Niger bridgehead was at a total standstill on Sunday as a result of heavy vehicular movements and a high volume of passengers.
Before Sunday, transport operators charged between N12, 000 to N15, 000 for a trip to Lagos, but on Sunday, they were charging as much as N25, 000 for a trip to Lagos.
