A Nigerian lawmaker has warned that the Anambra State government’s efforts to end the weekly sit-at-home protests in the South-East could deepen insecurity rather than restore normal economic activity.
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Monitoring and Evaluation, Obi Aguocha, said Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s approach risks reigniting fear and resistance across the region.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, Mr Aguocha said progress had been made in recent years to stabilise the South-East through dialogue and quiet engagement with local stakeholders, but warned that these gains were now under threat.
The Monday sit-at-home order began in 2021 following the arrest and extradition of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. Although IPOB later announced the suspension of the directive, compliance has continued in many areas, largely due to fear and lingering insecurity.
Mr Aguocha said markets and commercial centres across the region had gradually resumed operations over the past three years, attributing the improvement to sustained engagement rather than force.
“Unfortunately, recent actions by the Anambra State government have unsettled a group of previously calm agitators who had helped reduce the impact of the sit-at-home protests,” he said.
While acknowledging that Governor Soludo’s intention to restore full economic activity may be well-meaning, the lawmaker described the method used as counterproductive.
He warned that the enforcement measures had revived fear, strengthened resistance and reopened old grievances, adding that if left unchecked, the situation could lead to renewed violence and increased criminal activity.
Mr Aguocha also questioned the legal basis for compelling traders to open their businesses, arguing that decisions to operate or close shops fall under citizens’ fundamental rights rather than state authority.
He further linked continued agitation in the South-East to the ongoing detention of Mr Kanu, describing it as a major source of tension in the region.
“Until the federal government addresses the detention of Nnamdi Kanu, concerns over the administration of justice, and the broader issues of marginalisation and youth unrest, the cycle of resentment is likely to continue,” he said.
The lawmaker added that attempts to coerce political support through force would be resisted, insisting that people in the region would defend their democratic rights.
Mr Aguocha said his position in the House of Representatives required him to continue advocating for justice and dialogue as the most effective path to lasting peace in the South-East.
