The Anambra State government has called on residents to ignore the rumours of a five-day sit-at-order issued by some groups.
The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB had on Wednesday distanced itself from the order that was issued by the Simon Ekpa-led group.
Anambra State Government, in a statement by Paul Nwosu, the commissioner for information, described the order as wicked, mindless, retrogressive, and unnecessarily punitive.
He said the so-called “sit-at-home” order was released on social media by enemies of the Igbo Nation.
According to him, the order released by impersonators of the original IPOB leadership stated that Igbo people should sit at home on the 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th of December.
“The government is calling on our people to disregard the order and go about their normal businesses and daily activities peacefully.
“The Christmas season is a period of joy and happiness, and the government will go all out to ensure that the mood is not dampened in any way.
All the various arms of our security agencies are on full alert to ensure the safety of lives and properties, as well as apprehend those who may breach the peace and tranquillity of the state this season.
“Anambra State Government also finds it disturbing that a renegade and expelled member of IPOB will, from the comfort of his Finland home, continue to issue cold-blooded and murderous orders that are aimed at destabilizing Igboland.
“This is condemnable and an atrocious crime against the enterprising and peace-loving people of Igboland. It’s about time the Federal Government took the necessary steps to contain these foreign agents who are bent on fomenting needless crises in the southeastern states.
“It is pertinent to note that in a swift reaction by the authentic IPOB leadership led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the media and publicity secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, stated that “the global family of IPOB, under the command and leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu Kanu did not issue any sit-at-home order on the 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th of December.”
“Describing those who released the earlier statement as “untrained and brainless”, he directed all those residents in Igboland to ignore the order and go about their normal businesses on those days, insisting that IPOB that is concerned about “our people cannot issue such a brainless and uncaring 5-days consecutive sit-at-home order to suffer our people during this critical time of the year when people are trying to make up in their businesses for the year”, he said.
