The order came after a pro-Biafra agitator with a base in Finland Simon Ekpa’s made an announcement that there would be a two-week sit-at-home protest starting on July 31 in the South-East region.

In an interview with The PUNCH, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, said that the 82 Division’s troops had been instructed to cooperate with other security agencies to ensure that people may go about their daily lives without restriction.

Such an announcement, according to the army spokesman, is unlawful and will not be tolerated.

Onyema said, “The renewed threat by IPOB to compel the people in southeastern Nigeria to sit at home is not only appalling but a violation of the fundamental rights of southeastern Nigerians and, therefore, unlawful. This will never be condoned.

“The Chief of Army Staff has handed down clear directives to the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army operating in synergy with other security agencies to ensure robust patrols to dominate all flashpoints and emplace measures to ensure citizens are free to go about their legitimate businesses.

“Strangely, Simon Ekpa, a notorious terrorist and self-acclaimed leader of IPOB, is in Finland making a living for himself and his family, but ordering the people to shut down their means of livelihood by sitting at home.”

The army spokesman called on  Nigerians in the South-East region to disregard the sit-at-home order, urging them to support the security forces to defeat IPOB.

Onyema said, “We implore the good and enterprising people of the South-East to shun all forms of cajoling or threats aimed at unlawfully compelling them to be reclusive by sitting at home. We urge them to join forces with the security operatives to resist this illegality perpetrated by IPOB.”