Kanu was arrested in Kenya on June 27 and extradited to Nigeria on June 29 and has been in DSS custody since then. IPOB in a statement released a few days ago announced that it will enforce a lockdown every Monday in the South-east until Kanu is released. The group said the lockdown tagged ‘Ghost Monday’ will also affect schools and marketplaces.

However in a statement released by its secretary-general, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide kicked against the sit-at-home order saying it will further worsen the economic woes of the region.

The statement reads “We are in support of any civil disobedience that will be peaceful and without infestations of untold hardship and economic havoc on southeastern Nigerians, we are aware of the economic losses associated with sit-at-home orders in the past but we call for caution in the issuance of fresh sit at home orders with suffering starring on the faces of Ndigbo. Southeastern governors should be consulted with other stakeholders including Igbo traditional rulers and market administrators to ascertain the consequences of sit-at-home orders in the past and the best strategies to free Nnamdi Kanu. It’s not in the best interest of Ndigbo to add more salt to injuries, there are better options that IPOB can use to push for the release of Nnamdi Kanu without infesting hardships on Ndigbo through sit-at-home.”

Kanu was arrested on Sunday, June 27, and arraigned before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court Abuja today June 29.

Ohaneze Ndigbo in a statement released by Okechukwu Isiguzoro, it’s Secretary-General, said Kanu’s refusal to listen to Igbo leaders’ advice led him to his present predicament. The group advised the Nigerian government to handle the IPOB leader’s case carefully in order to prevent violent revolts from his followers.

The statement in part reads “Nnamdi Kanu’s refusal to adhere to the advice of Igbo leaders, elders, and political leaders is the outcome of what had befallen him, he made a lot of enemies especially those that would have saved him and Federal Government will never lose grip on him again. We don’t think that any Igbo leader will stick out his/her neck for him, his re-arrest will eventually bring peace and stability to the region and averted another civil war that was raging on. Federal Government should handle the situation carefully because his large followers of IPOB wouldn’t resort to violent revolts, his trial should be strictly based on the laws of the land, they shouldn’t kill him because it will destabilise the entire country.”