The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has claimed success in 10 states with regard to its Friday, September 14, sit-at-home order.

The group in a statement issued yesterday evening and signed by the Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, expressed joy at the success of the sit-at-home order, saying that “collective defiance of the oppressor and their local agents have truly marked IPOB as the authentic mouthpiece of the people.”

The statement said: “We commend the people of Ebonyi, Abia, Anambra, Rivers, Delta, Imo, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Cross River states and Biafrans in Benue, Edo and Kogi states for their respect and honour of our fallen martyrs at Afaraukwu and mothers who were humiliated in Owerri recently. We are particularly elated that Yenegoa and parts of Bayelsa demonstrated their Biafra credentials by equally preserving the sit-at-home order.

“The predictably biased report from Enugu, accompanied by unrelated photos as a result of heavily induced payment from the state government and other actors, did not conceal the fact that over 70 per cent compliance was recorded in Enugu metropolis and Abakaliki respectively.

“Videos and live footage of the state of our towns and villages abound. No amount of distortion, arm-twisting or media manipulation will excuse the fact that the overwhelming majority of Biafrans obeyed IPOB order to sit-at-home. We have left the saboteurs in shame- hopelessly clinging on to the crumbs of comfort that total lock-down was not recorded at the vicinity of Enugu Government House.”

IPOB said that the success of the sit-at-home has proven to the entire world that Biafrans are in charge of the whole Eastern Region.

The statement further said: “Today’s sit-at-home order issued by IPOB and observed by Biafrans is purely indicative to all and sundry that Biafra has come to stay and we salute their courage.

“We must not fail to thank those brave men and women of the press that boldly reported the truth. The efforts of saboteurs to use journalists to subvert the truth have failed. For how long will South East governors continue relying on the power of money to distort facts which are already public knowledge. Only those in far-flung places may be deceived but those in other parts of Enugu State like Nsukka and Obolo-afor will testify that markets were shut down, roads deserted.

“IPOB will over the coming days continue the release of time-stamped video clips and photographs to drive home the truth that compliance across the board in Biafraland to be above 90%.”

•The deserted Umunze Nkwo Market in Anambra State . . . on Friday. Photo: Pamela Eboh/News Express

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