A human rights lawyer and lead counsel for the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) , Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has called on residents of the South-East to disregard what he described as a “fraudulent” sit-at-home order reportedly scheduled for Monday, February 2, 2026.
The sit-at-home directive was earlier announced by a faction of the pro-Biafran group through its spokesman, Emma Powerful, who said the action was meant to show solidarity with traders at the Onitsha Main Market.
According to Powerful, the proposed shutdown across Biafraland was intended as a peaceful protest against the decision of Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to close the Onitsha Main Market for one week.
However, in a statement issued on Saturday, Ejiofor dismissed the directive, alleging that those operating under the name “Emma Powerful” had been compromised and were acting contrary to the interests of Ndi-Igbo.
He maintained that IPOB had clearly dissociated itself from the alleged order and urged residents of the region to continue their lawful and normal activities without fear.
The statement read in part: “Once again, the well-worn theatre of misinformation has opened its curtains, this time with a particularly lazy script and an insultingly predictable cast.
“Late yesterday, a report was widely circulated alleging that a total lockdown of Ala-Igbo had been ordered under the guise of a sit-at-home directive purportedly issued by ‘Emma Powerful,’ slated for Monday, February 2, 2026.
“Let it be stated clearly, unequivocally, and without ambiguity: this directive is fake, a phantom, a calculated falsehood.
“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 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.
“It is therefore no longer sufficient to merely advise our people to ‘ignore’ publications from this source. The time has come for greater clarity and firmness. 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 further stated that the leadership of the peaceful global movement owed Ndi-Igbo a clear and public explanation regarding the reliability of the platform, warning that silence or ambiguity could enable further abuse.
“A masquerade that dances with fire should not be mistaken for a messenger of truth,” the statement concluded.
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