August 9 this year made it three years that the people in the South Eastern part of the country are mandated to remain at home every Monday. The sit-at-home was initially declared by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in protest against the arrest and imprisonment of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu. For three years, people living in Enugu, Abia, Imo, Ebonyi and Anambra States, are prevented from going about their businesses every Monday.  Markets, schools, offices, banks, and so on remain closed. In some places, people are not even allowed to go to hospitals on “Ghost Mondays”. Reasons may have prevailed on the leadership of IPOB to put an indefinite end to the weekly exercise in 2023 as it had constantly resulted in killing and destruction of lives and property. In the statement titled, ‘Monday weekly sit-at-home: An ugly phase of a bygone history that must never be repeated as echoed by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’, the spokesman of IPOB, Emma Powerful warned that any person or persons talking about sit-at-home in Igbo land again will be considered an enemy of the people and will be dealt with accordingly.
However, a young Finland-based, Nigerian, Simon Ekpa, refused to heed the call. The factional leader of the secessionist group decided to take the “agitation” to the next level by sometimes declaring a whole week as sit-at-home and wasting innocent lives within those days. He sits comfortably in Finland and dishes out orders on how to destroy his homeland. His calls for sit-at-home protests, often enforced with violence, have disrupted daily life, harmed economic activities, and deepened mistrust between residents and authorities. Many people have tales of woes to tell of how their loved ones and family members were butchered by Ekpa’s foot soldiers who are bent on forcing everybody to comply with the sit-at-home directives. Reports have it that some hoodlums have capitalised on the sit-at-home order to perpetrate all manners of crime in the zone – kidnapping, killing, maiming, etc. wearing the toga of IPOB and ESN and unknown gunmen. Many government buildings have been razed down with many policemen being killed.
So, the recent arrest and detention of Simon Ekpa by the Finnish authorities over terrorism charges was long overdue. It is high time the  young man and his co-travellers were put on the right track. Of course, the Constitution of the country grants the citizens the freedom of expression and the right to protest against any wrong in the system or make any demand from the government but when one oversteps his bounds by stepping on the rights of others and engaging in acts of terrorism, he should be called to order. But is Ekpa’s arrest enough to bring about the much-needed peace and security in the South-East? For a lot of people, the arrest of the Finland-based separatist, a divisive figure in the struggle for self-determination in Southeastern Nigeria, marks a significant development in the ongoing crisis in the region.  To others, it sends a strong message about the global community’s unwillingness to tolerate activities that incite violence and destabilisation.
However, it may not be uhuru yet until the root cause of the agitation is addressed. The region’s grievances extend beyond the actions of any single individual, and the movement for Biafra remains deeply rooted in historical and socio-political factors. The crisis in Igboland is primarily driven by demands for self-determination, economic, political marginalisation, and other grievances. Commenting on a recent controversy on whether or not non-indigenes are sold land to in Igboland, the Executive Director of Development Specs Academy, Prof. Okey Okechukwu, noted that contrary to the erroneous belief of some uninformed people, Igbos do sell land to non-indigenes but the problem is that land in the South-East are not attractive for non-Igbos to buy due to the limited absence of federal presence in the region. “Tell me, what federal establishment do you have in Enugu and all over the South East that will make me leave my place in Yorubaland to come and buy land?. Is it to be a villager? he asked.
“So, we must also see the connection between national infrastructure, national institutions, national political headquarters etc. the limited absence of that in the South East makes the land there totally unattractive for anyone to procure”, he continued. Therefore, it is high time the federal government engaged in meaningful dialogue with legitimate leaders from the Southeast, including traditional and religious rulers, political figures, and civil society organizations. Government should see Ekpa’s arrest  as a diplomatic victory and an opportunity to engage the region without the looming shadow of Ekpa’s rhetoric. Economic empowerment, infrastructural development, and justice for victims of violence on all sides are essential components of any sustainable solution. Very importantly, the federal government should, in the interest of peace and security in the South East Zone and the country at large, reconsider its position towards the release of the IPOB leader.
President Bola Tinubu should show that he is interested in peace and unity of the country by heeding to the call by south east governors and other people from the zone on the release of the IPOB leader. What about solving the matter politically as has been canvased by many groups and persons.  In the words of the founding Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Chekwas Okorie, to Former President Muhammadu Buhari, “The time for President Muhammadu Buhari to show magnanimity and leadership in the vexed issue of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is now.” The same is being said to Tinubu today. On their own part, the governors of the South-East region must prioritize the welfare and security of their people.  The story of marginalisation of the South East by successive governments in the country is not strange but the political leaders in the zone are not making matters any better. They hardly make efforts towards employment creation for the youths.
A writer recently lamented the high number of political thugs in Enugu. He spoke with some of them who disclosed that they took to that line of “job” due to lack of meaningful employment opportunities years after their graduation from higher institutions. Many times, we have heard the spokesperson for IPOB, Emma Powerful, debunk the accusation that the group is responsible for the insecurity and the mayhem that have been going on in the region for years, saying that other people, some non-Igbos, masquerading as IPOB are taking advantage of the situation in the zone. IPOB should not stop at the disclaimer. They and other youths from the zone should join hands with the government to reveal the identities of the criminals and uproot them from the zone and the country at large. It is also high time IPOB and the Eastern Security Network (ESN)took a look at their strategy for their agitation.
If the whole thing is causing untold hardship and pain to the region and the people they claim to be fighting for, why continue with it.  IPOB and its factions must reassess their strategies. The use of violence and coercion has alienated many who might otherwise sympathise with their cause. Advocacy for self-determination must align with democratic principles and respect for human rights. Ekpa’s arrest provides an opportunity for introspection and recalibration. It is a reminder that actions taken in the name of liberation must not perpetuate the suffering of the very people they aim to serve. While the arrest of Sam Ekpa is a notable step, it is only one piece of a much larger puzzle. Peace in Igboland requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders to address historical grievances, foster economic development, and create a platform for genuine dialogue.
this moment will not be another flashpoint but a turning point toward lasting peace and reconciliation in the region.

By: Calista Ezeaku