Renowned Nigerian human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has urged Ndigbo to completely ignore the lockdown order issued by the Publicity Secretary of the group, Emma Powerful.

Powerful had issued a release, saying that the entire Southeast would be locked down Monday, 2 February 2026, in solidarity with traders in Onitsha Main Market, whose shops were closed by Anambra State Governor, Prof Soludo for their continuous observance of sit at home order.

The order is suspected to be targeted at spiting Governor Soludo, who had insisted that the market must open every Monday, and that traders must always be in their shops.

But in what seems to be a disagreement within the leadership of IPOB, the counsel to the group, Mr Ejiofor in a press release he made available to journalists urged everyone to discountenance the order.

He said IPOB had long denounced all sit-at-home orders and has no connection whatsoever with the purported directive.

He said: “Let it be stated clearly, unequivocally, and without ambiguity: this directive is fake—a phantom, a calculated falsehood.

“It is no longer sufficient to merely advise our people to ignore publications from this source (Emma Powerful). The time has come for clarity and firmness.

“Upon careful inquiry and diligent verification, especially considering the delicate and hard-won calm presently returning to our homeland, it became glaringly obvious that the so-called “Emma Powerful” platform has been fatally compromised.

“It has been hijacked by vested interests whose business model thrives on fear, disruption, extortion, and the cynical exploitation of vulnerable communities.

“The peaceful global movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has formally and decisively disowned this fabricated publication, categorically distancing itself from the false sit-at-home order and directing Ndi-Igbo to go about their lawful and normal activities without fear.

“Going forward, the message from IPOB is unmistakable: Any publication attributed to “Emma Powerful” should be treated with extreme suspicion, if not outright contempt.

“Frankly, one cannot but express astonishment, bordering on disbelief, that at such a critical juncture, when relative peace is cautiously resurfacing in Ala-Igbo, anyone would recklessly circulate information capable of reopening wounds and inviting criminal infiltration.

“History has taught us, at unbearable cost, what happens when fake directives fall into the hands of violent opportunists masquerading as enforcers.

“The platform known as “Emma Powerful,” in its current corrupted state, has positioned itself as an adversary to Ala-Igbo’s peace, progress, and collective well-being,” Ejiofor stated. (AriseNews TV, but headline changed)

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