Southeast Lockdown: Mass Sit-at-Home Signals Growing Secessionist Sentiment – USB’s Dr. Orabueze

A fresh wave of pro-Biafra agitation has taken center stage as the Deputy Prime Minister of the United States of Biafra (USB), Dr. Ngozi Orabueze, claims that widespread compliance with the Monday sit-at-home order across the Southeast and South-South regions is a sign that Biafrans have “rejected” the Nigerian government.

In a statement released on her official X account on Monday, Orabueze stated that 98 percent of the region’s residents voluntarily observed the stay-at-home directive, which has now run for over three years.
She described the ongoing protest as an “unofficial referendum” showcasing the people’s desire for self-determination.

“The voluntary Monday sit-at-home, agreed upon by almost 98 percent of citizens of the United States of Biafra today, February 3rd, 2025, recorded a massive success across the new state,” she said.

According to Orabueze, the continued protest strengthens the legitimacy of the USB under Simon Ekpa’s leadership while sending a strong message of discontent against the Nigerian state.
She vowed that the lockdown would persist until the release of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu and USB Prime Minister Simon Ekpa.

She further accused the Nigerian government of committing atrocities in the region, alleging that the military—under the directive of Defense Chief Christopher Musa and President Bola Tinubu—has been involved in extrajudicial killings.

“The Nigerian terrorist state continues to unleash violence on our people, but we are determined to defend Biafrans and ensure our freedom,” she added.

The sit-at-home protests, which began as a demand for Kanu’s release, have severely impacted economic activities in the Southeast, with businesses, transport systems, and markets shutting down every Monday.
While supporters hail it as a powerful act of resistance, critics warn that the continuous shutdown is crippling the region’s economy.

With rising tensions and no resolution in sight, the Biafra agitation remains a major challenge for the Nigerian government, which insists that the country’s unity is non-negotiable.
Meanwhile, Ekpa remains under scrutiny following his arrest in Finland last year, while Kanu remains in Nigerian custody since his controversial extradition from Kenya in 2021.

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