Sit-at-home: Gunshots ring out as enforcers defy Soludo, open fire in Anambra

Residents who chose to comply with Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo’s directive to ignore the Monday sit-at-home order declared by Biafra separatists were met with fear and violence, as gunmen enforcing the directive opened fire in parts of the state.
Reports gathered by News Express indicate that the Nkpor area, close to the bustling commercial city of Onitsha, was the worst affected.

A resident of the area told News Express that gunshots were heard as early as 4:00 a.m.
“There were gunshots from around 4 o’clock this morning. A number of people are believed to have been shot, but there is no confirmation yet,” the source said.
Several videos circulating online show disturbing scenes, including one clip of a man in a suit reportedly shot in the face, and another showing a Mitsubishi bus riddled with bullets.
In the video featuring the damaged bus, the narrator—who claimed ownership of the vehicle—lamented that he was attacked after deciding to obey Governor Soludo’s instruction to reopen his shop.
“Now, see what has happened. Thank God that myself and my two boys escaped death,” the man said in the Igbo language.
Findings by News Express revealed that although some traders reopened their shops at the Onitsha Main Market—recently reopened after being shut for a week by the state government—commercial activities remained minimal. Roads were largely deserted, with few customers present. In some markets, traders were seen passing time by playing football.
There was confusion over the sit-at-home directive, as IPOB spokesman Emma Powerful had earlier announced that the exercise would hold across the South-East in response to Soludo’s order. However, IPOB’s lawyer, Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, dismissed the directive as fake and urged residents to disregard it.
Subsequently, IPOB’s Directorate of State (DOS) issued a statement declaring the sit-at-home order unauthorised and announced the abolition of the use of the name “Emma Powerful,” which it described as a pseudonym, for issuing IPOB statements.
In response, Emma Powerful countered the claim, insisting that only IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu—currently serving a prison sentence in Sokoto—has the authority to take such a decision.