Micah Jonah
January 28, 2026
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr. Obi Aguocha, has cautioned the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, over moves to end the Monday sit-at-home order, warning that such actions could escalate insecurity across the South-East.
Aguocha, who represents Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency in Abia State, noted that efforts by lawmakers and other stakeholders to stabilize the region were gradually yielding results before what he described as the recent intervention by Gov. Soludo.
In a statement issued in Abuja, the lawmaker said the Governor’s actions had unsettled a fragile peace slowly returning to the region.
“Gov. Soludo has unfortunately unleashed terror on an army of silent agitators who, for so long, had helped to abate the significance of the Monday sit-at-home rituals,” Aguocha said.
He emphasized that while the Governor’s intention to end the sit-at-home might be well-meaning, the method adopted was counterproductive. “These misguided actions have reignited embers of fear, hardened resistance, and resurrected old resentments, which, if left unchecked, could plunge the region into renewed violence and serious crimes,” he warned.
Aguocha further argued that state governments have no legal authority to compel private business owners to open or close their shops. He questioned whether similar punitive measures would apply to those who close their businesses early on Wednesdays to attend religious services.
On broader security concerns, Aguocha stated that the continued detention of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, by the Federal Government remains a major driver of unrest. “Until the Nigerian state genuinely addresses grievances such as the unjust detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, marginalization of the Igbo people, and root causes of youth agitation, we must brace for a vicious cycle of resentment,” he said.
The Monday sit-at-home order in the South-East began in 2021 – following Kanu’s arrest and extradition. Although IPOB later suspended the directive, compliance continued in many areas due to insecurity and fear. Successive state governments have struggled to restore normal economic activities, often triggering fresh tensions with enforcement measures.
