Umuahia Witnesses Total Compliance as IPOB Sit-at-Home Halts Activities on Biafra Day

Summary

• Umuahia observes total shutdown on Biafra Day amid IPOB sit-at-home order
• Streets, markets, schools, and banks deserted as residents comply from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Peaceful observance contrasts with previous years; security presence minimal.

Umuahia, Nigeria – The capital city of Abia State came to a standstill on Thursday as residents observed a sit-at-home order declared by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to mark Biafra Day.

The annual remembrance, held in honour of those who died during the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970) and in subsequent agitations for self-determination, saw streets deserted and businesses shuttered in a show of quiet solidarity.

From early morning till evening, Umuahia’s normally busy roads, markets, schools, and banks remained closed. Only a handful of tricycles and private vehicles were spotted, while groups of youths took advantage of the empty streets to play soccer.

Deserted Streets in Umuahia

The level of compliance, described by observers as total, marked a notable shift from past years when partial activity was recorded in some areas.

IPOB spokesman Emma Powerful had earlier urged residents across the Southeast to stay indoors from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., using the time to reflect on the sacrifices of Biafran heroes and the ongoing struggle for self-determination. The directive was heeded with surprising calm in Umuahia, with no reports of violence, protest, or confrontations with security personnel.

Unlike previous commemorations that sometimes witnessed military patrols or shows of force, this year’s observance was remarkably peaceful, further emphasizing the day’s solemn tone.

Despite the Nigerian police labelling the sit-at-home “unlawful” and encouraging citizens to go about their normal business, the streets told a different story, pone of quiet resistance or silent respect.

Businesses shuttered in a Usually Busy Part of Umuahia

Biafra Day marks the anniversary of the 1967 declaration of the Republic of Biafra by then-Eastern Region Governor Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, an event that triggered a brutal 30-month civil war.

For IPOB, the day also serves as a reminder of what they term Nigeria’s “forced unity” and a renewed call for the release of their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who has been detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 2021.

Umuahia, Kanu’s hometown, has long held symbolic importance in the Biafra struggle. The 2025 observance, considered one of the most complete in recent memory, underscores the continuing resonance of the cause, even as economic hardship and political discontent deepen across the region.

No official statement had been released by Abia State authorities or the police by press time, but the day’s peaceful unfolding may point to a silent truce or unspoken understanding between residents and the state apparatus.

Major news outlets have reported on the shutdown, with images shared on social media platform X capturing the striking emptiness of Umuahia’s streets.