The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has announced a complete lockdown across the Southeast region of Nigeria on Thursday, May 30, 2025, in observance of Biafra Heroes Memorial Day. The declaration, made on Monday by IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful, calls on all residents to remain indoors as a mark of respect for those who died in the Biafra struggle.
According to the statement, the May 30 sit-at-home has been designated a public holiday across ‘Biafra Land’, as IPOB prepares to honour the memories of its fallen heroes and heroines who fought during the Nigerian Civil War and subsequent clashes related to the agitation for Biafran independence.
IPOB emphasized that the directive is not just symbolic but a safety precaution. “We urge all Biafrans to remain indoors to avoid confrontations with Nigerian security agents, who may use the occasion to provoke unrest or shed innocent blood,” Powerful warned. He added that previous encounters with the military and police during similar commemorations have often turned bloody.
As part of the lead-up to the memorial, IPOB says it has rolled out radio broadcasts, media sensitization, and lectures aimed at educating the younger generation on the sacrifices made by past Biafran fighters. These activities are already underway and will continue through the end of May.
Transporters and business owners have also been ordered to suspend all operations on that day. “No movement, no markets, no schools, no work,” the statement read. IPOB noted that May 30 is not just a remembrance but a declaration of ongoing resistance, identity, and unity among the Igbo people and Biafran supporters worldwide.
The group reiterated that anyone defying the lockdown order does so at their own risk. “This is not a threat but a firm advisory rooted in history, sacrifice, and our collective safety,” it stated. Powerful urged parents to keep their children indoors and warned that the Nigerian military might exploit any public gathering.
Security agencies are yet to formally respond to the IPOB directive, but sources say intelligence has been heightened in the region in anticipation of the commemorative day, which often triggers heightened tensions between pro-Biafra groups and Nigerian security forces.
