May 30 sit-at-home compliance shows Biafra is alive, says IPOB

DDM News

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have declared that the successful sit-at-home protest across the South-East on May 30 is a strong sign that Biafra remains alive in the hearts of its people.

According to IPOB, the high level of compliance shown by residents during the Biafra Day memorial is evidence that the spirit of Biafra is not only alive but growing stronger.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, issued a statement on behalf of the group’s leadership, hailing what he described as “unprecedented compliance” with the directive across the region and beyond.

The statement credited the wide participation to the “courage, discipline, and deep ancestral conviction” of Biafrans who chose to honour the memory of their fallen heroes and heroines in silence and reflection.

Emma Powerful said the sit-at-home was ordered under the command of IPOB’s leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and was observed in both homeland territories and in the diaspora.

He noted that this year’s Biafra Day activities were not only peaceful but also deeply spiritual, reinforcing the connection between the past and the present struggle for self-determination.

“The total compliance with this sacred ritual of remembrance shows that Biafra is not a dream,” Powerful said.

“Biafra is a living spirit burning in every true Biafran’s soul.”

He added that the movement for Biafra is not merely political but deeply rooted in the identity and DNA of the people.

“Every child born of genuine Biafran blood has the map of Biafra encrypted in their DNA,” he said.

“Our resistance to oppression is not learned; it is inborn.”

He insisted that the Biafran people are destined to rise, no matter the challenges or setbacks they face.

“Freedom is our essence, and justice is our creed,” Powerful stated.

He emphasized that IPOB is not just a group but a living embodiment of the collective spirit of all Biafrans.

The group pledged to honour the memories of those who lost their lives in the Biafran civil war and in other forms of state violence through permanent monuments.

From 2026, IPOB said it will begin constructing cenotaphs in every community, clan, and state capital across the South-East.

These cenotaphs, according to Powerful, will serve as permanent reminders of the sacrifices made by past generations.

He said the memorials will commemorate not only those who died during the 1967–1970 civil war but also all victims of what IPOB describes as “an occupying and oppressive regime.”

The civil war, often referred to as the Biafran War, resulted in the deaths of over a million people, mostly due to starvation and disease following Nigeria’s military blockade of the secessionist region.

Since then, May 30 has been observed by many Igbo people and Biafra sympathizers as a solemn day of remembrance.

In recent years, IPOB has championed the annual sit-at-home directive, asking citizens to remain indoors and shut down commercial and social activities in honour of the war’s victims.

Despite government warnings and security alerts, the directive has often received varying levels of compliance across the region.

This year’s turnout, however, was notably significant according to IPOB, which sees it as a moral victory and a reaffirmation of the people’s yearning for freedom.

Emma Powerful noted that the resolve displayed on May 30 cannot be ignored by those in power.

He said that no amount of intimidation, militarization, or political manipulation can erase the collective memory and struggle of the Biafran people.

“Our martyrs did not die in vain,” he said.

“They remain our eternal inspiration as we continue this non-violent struggle for the liberation and restoration of our land.”

The group also called on international organizations, human rights bodies, and world governments to recognize the South-East’s right to self-determination and to acknowledge the “undeniable signs” that the people seek to govern themselves in peace and justice.

While IPOB remains a proscribed organization in Nigeria, it continues to command significant followership, especially among the youth in the South-East, many of whom express discontent with marginalization and lack of federal presence in their region.

Analysts believe that events like the May 30 sit-at-home reflect not only a historical sentiment but also growing frustration with the structure and governance of the Nigerian state.

Emma Powerful reiterated IPOB’s commitment to achieving its goals through peaceful means and urged supporters to stay united, disciplined, and focused.

He said future generations will look back at these days as defining moments in their history.

“Let it be known that Biafra lives,” the statement concluded.

“It is not a forgotten cause, but a spirit reborn in each act of remembrance, unity, and defiance.”

As the region marks another Biafra Day, voices like IPOB’s continue to push the narrative that the memories of the civil war and the demand for self-rule are far from over.

And while debates over secession persist, the spiritual and emotional ties to the idea of Biafra remain strong in many quarters.

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