IPOB Declares Total Lockdown in Southeast on May 30 to Honour Fallen Biafran Heroes

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has declared a complete sit-at-home across the Southeast geopolitical zone on May 30, 2025, in honour of Biafran men, women, and children who died during the Nigerian Civil War and in subsequent agitations for self-determination.

The pro-Biafra group made the announcement in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, on Tuesday, warning that there will be no movement, business operations, or public events across the five southeastern states on that day.

“May 30 remains sacred to Biafrans across the world. It is not a protest, it is not a violent action it is a day of reflection and total silence in memory of our heroes. We expect total compliance from every city, village, and street in the Southeast,” the statement read.

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The group called on schools, markets, transport unions, and government offices to shut down in solidarity, noting that the annual remembrance is not just about the past, but about the ongoing struggle for freedom and justice in the region.

Security agencies have yet to issue an official response, but sources in the Nigerian Police Force say security will be heightened in major cities including Enugu, Onitsha, Aba, Owerri, and Awka to prevent any breakdown of law and order.

Civil society groups and some southeastern leaders have appealed for calm, urging IPOB to adopt more dialogue based approaches while also calling on the federal government to address long-standing grievances fueling agitation in the region.

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This year’s lockdown will mark the 55th anniversary of the declaration of the defunct Republic of Biafra in 1967, a move that led to a brutal 30-month civil war and the deaths of over a million people, mostly from starvation and disease.

Observers say compliance with the lockdown has increased in recent years, with streets usually deserted and businesses closed, despite occasional warnings by security forces.

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IPOB warned that any individual or group that attempts to violate the May 30 sit-at-home will be “held accountable,” raising fears of possible clashes or forced enforcement by loyalists.