By Chidinma Iroegbu
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has cautioned Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, against threatening residents who choose to observe the Monday sit-at-home protest across the state.
The group described the reported threat as provocative and urged the governor to exercise restraint in handling the issue.
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, IPOB said the sit-at-home remained a symbolic and voluntary act of solidarity with its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
IPOB stressed that residents who stay indoors on Mondays do so out of personal conviction and not under any form of coercion.
The group argued that peaceful civil disobedience was a recognised democratic practice protected under the constitution.
It noted that traders, students, professionals, and other citizens had the right to express dissent through non-violent means without fear of punishment.
IPOB warned that criminalising peaceful protest would amount to an assault on human dignity and could further heighten tensions in the South-east.
The group accused Governor Soludo of ignoring the root causes of agitation in the region while allegedly targeting ordinary citizens.
It advised the governor to focus on governance and the mandate given to him by the people of Anambra State.
IPOB insisted that the Monday sit-at-home would continue as a silent protest until what it described as the injustice against Nnamdi Kanu was addressed.