Last Saturday, the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) suspended its Mondays’ sit-at-home order, saying it will now be observed on any scheduled court appearance of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who is facing charges of “terrorism, treason, running an illegal company, publishing defamatory materials and illegal possession of firearms” at the Federal High Court, Abuja. The suspension only provided partial relief to persons in the area, as many remained indoors for fear of attacks.

The sit-at-home order of the previous Monday was marked with blood and tears. 14 people, including travellers, were reported killed as IPOB members wreaked havoc in Anambra and Imo states.

IPOB’s militant arm, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), reportedly invaded the Nigeria Police Area Command, Nnewi, Anambra State, with seven vehicles, killed four personnel and carted away arms and ammunition.

This was after a joint security patrol team killed two IPOB members who set three buses on fire as they enforced the group’s sit-at-home order in the area. And in Awkuzu, Anambra State, personnel of the Naval Post, Onitsha, killed six IPOB members while others suffered severe injuries during a repel attack by the troops.

In Imo State, five commercial vehicles conveying passengers around 4:30.am were set burnt at Nkwo Ogwu, Aboh-Mbaise, along the Owerri-Umuahia road by members of ESN. Two persons were burnt inside the vehicles while many passengers, who were travelling to Lagos and others returning to Imo State from Lagos, escaped with bullet wounds.

While IPOB gloated over the “success” of the sit-at-home order, residents of the region counted their losses as private and public offices and businesses were shut down.

What is most disheartening is that the group blocked secondary school students from going out to take their scheduled National Examination Council (NECO) examination, thereby scuttling their educational growth, and indeed that of the region.

It is unfortunate that despite pleas by well-meaning individuals and groups from within the region and outside, the group insists on the order. The latest sit-at-home order came barely two months of an earlier one which also claimed lives and shut down the region.

The sad part of this issue is the fact that people are being forced to obey the order of a group proscribed by the federal government as a terrorist organisation out of fear for their lives and property, as they would be attacked for doing anything to the contrary.

It must be noted that the Nigerian constitution allows for freedom of movement, and no one is allowed to stop people from going about their legitimate businesses, let alone a proscribed group. The previous times the sit-at-home order was called, they left in their wake deaths and destruction of property, which is not good for the region or the country at large.

It is indeed worrisome that despite orders and threats by governors of states in the region to prevent people from observing the sit-at-home order, the IPOB members had their way. This is indeed very dangerous as it is an indication that the governors who are the chief executive officers of the region are not really in charge. The governors need to do more to take charge of their states. We also call on the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and other stakeholders in the region to intervene and stop the group.

Nobody is above the law. It is time to rein in the IPOB members and stop the sit-at-home permanently. The fact that they said it would now hold only when Nnamdi Kanu is being arraigned is not good enough; it must no longer be allowed to hold. No single group should hold a region to ransom.

The group claims to be fighting for its leader, who is standing trial for crimes against the state. Well, that is not the way to go about it. The leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is standing trial over several allegations, including terrorism and treasonable felony, they should provide him with legal support and allow the law to take its course, just as we urge the federal government to expedite action on the process so that the matter can be concluded as soon as possible.

In the interim, since it appears the issue is now beyond the governors of the region to handle, we urge the federal government to intervene and put a stop to it. People from the region are citizens of Nigeria and their rights must be protected.

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