The Imo State Police Command on Wednesday told residents to ignore  the three-day sit-at-home order of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).


IPOB has insisted that the May 30 sit-at-home remains sacrosanct across the South-East and that every resident in the zone should stay at home in commemoration of “Biafra Heroes Day.”


However, in a press statement, the Imo  Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye described  the order as “unlawful”.


He added that the State's Commissioner of Police, Mr Aboki Danjuma has strategically deployed security operatives to all nooks and crannies to ensure public safety.


“The Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Aboki Danjuma, has urged the law-abiding residents of the state to disregard the unlawful and deleterious three days sit-at-home order imposed by the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN),” the statement reads.


It further adds: “And go about your lawful businesses without any form of fear or intimidation as the command in synergy with other security agencies has emplaced adequate security measures to evade any threat of attack by any insurgent group.


“Joint security operatives drawn from  the police, military, civil defense, road safety, immigration and fire service have been massively deployed to embark on confidence-building patrol and operation show of force across the 27 LGAs of the State, to ensure public safety.” 


Okoye warned those intending to disrupt the peace of the State to desist as the law is fully prepared to deal with anyone attempting to disrupt law and order in the State 


He urged residents to report any suspicious person or activities to the police.


“The command, therefore, is using this medium to warn anybody intending to destabilize the improved peace and security in the State by attempting to enforce the illegal sit-at-home order to better have a rethink as anyone caught in the act will be made to face full wrath of the law,” Okoye said.


“The commissioner of police calls on ‘Ndi Imo’ to be security conscious and swiftly report any suspicious person seen or clandestine activity observed within their vicinity to the nearest police station or via the command’s emergency lines 08034773600 or 08098880197.”


In Anambra State, IPOB had earlier directed the West African Examination Council and the authorities of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka to shift their respective engagements earlier scheduled for the day, while declaring the day as a day to celebrate its fallen heroes during the civil war between 1967 and 1970.


The pro-Biafran group, in a statement signed by its spokesman, Emma Powerful, on Tuesday, said the remembrance of all those who fought for Biafra freedom and sovereignty remains imperative, and no government or security agency has any authority to harass any innocent person during the event.


Powerful stated that all social activities in Biafra Land are banned.


In Enugu State, the Commissioner for Information, Mr Aka Eze Aka stated that “The Enugu State Government notes with deep concern the statement credited to the Indigenous People of Biafra directing the West African Examination Council to postpone the General Mathematics (Theory and Objectives) examinations scheduled for Thursday, May 30, 2024, which the IPOB had designated ‘Biafra Heroes Day,’ Eze noted.


“We note with particular concern IPOB’s statement that ‘WAEC board should not endanger the lives of small children because that day is not safe for any individual in Biafra territory.’


“This is unacceptable to us, not only because of the well-known position of the Enugu State Government on illegal sit-at-home orders, which have dealt a great blow on the socio-economic life and fortunes of the South East region but also because of the far-reaching consequences of a whole generation of Enugu children failing to sit for a fundamental subject such as Mathematics