Igbo people in the South East and South South geopolitical zones have been advised to disregard a September 14 sit-at-home directive issued by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Garba Umar, gave the advice in a chat with reporters on Monday in Awka, the Anambra State capital.
IPOB had called for the sit-at-home across “Biafraland” to protest the proposed Operation Python Dance 3 by the Nigerian military.
In a statement, IPOB said that the directive became necessary to prevent another disaster.
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“At a time when we are still burying those Operation Python Dance 2 killed and dumped in mass graves across Biafraland in September 2017, here we are today with Nigeria military once again poised to invade the South East, to slaughter the weak and innocent in their annual genocidal ritual in the name of yet another Operation Python Dance 3,” the statement read in part.
But Umar urged residents to embark on their day-to-day activities without fear of molestation, describing IPOB as an illegal organisation that is incapable of issuing directives to law-abiding citizens.
Umar spoke after a joint meeting all of security agencies in the South East, including the Army, Police, Civil Defense, Immigration, Department of State Services, DSS, and others.
The commissioner said, “IPOB is an illegal organization. We are therefore appealing to members of the public that on no account should they be intimidated or harassed into succumbing to the threat of IPOB. They plan to embark on sit-at-home on September 14, 2018, but the security agencies are ready for any eventuality.
“We urge members of the public to go about their lawful businesses as they will be adequately protected. The issue of calling for a referendum on the 8th of this month or thereabout and the September 14 sit –at- home order by IPOB will not be tolerated.”