IPOB Cancels sit- at- home for Biafra day celebration

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has said the annual Biafra day celebration, to commemorate fallen heroes of Biafra after the civil war, will not be observed with a sit-at-home order as it was in the past.

Media and Publicity Secretary of the group, Emma Powerful, in a statement in Owerri, said the celebration, which would hold between May 27 and May 30, would feature more of prayers and fasting for the Biafra heroes as well as against the ravaging coronavirus pandemic.

According to the programmes as announced by the group, every member is expected to pray and fast at home, but added that there would be a candlelight procession in every state.

Explaining why members of the group would not observe sit-at-home, Powerful said: “There won’t be any sitat-home because our people have stayed at home during the coronavirus lockdown. IPOB wouldn’t like to bother people with another lockdown in form of sit-at-home.

“After much consideration and deliberations, IPOB high command decided to urge Biafrans, both at home and in the diaspora, to observe this year’s remembrance and celebration of our brothers and sisters who were killed and starved to death during Biafra war.

“This year’s anniversary will begin with reading of Psalms of David from chapter 1 to the last chapter. Every individual and group should observe this year”s prayer designed to remember our fallen heroes and heroines who paid the ultimate price for our living.

“Therefore, IPOB families and Biafrans across countries of the world are encouraged to use this year’s anniversary to pray for our fallen heroes, including those who were killed by the overzealous Nigeria security personnel in the course of the renewed quest to restore Biafra.

“We shall also use this year’s event to pray for divine protection for Biafrans everywhere on the surface of the earth against the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the world.

We shall also pray for the speedy recovery of those infested with the scourge, and for immediate end of the global pandemic,” Powerful said.