The group also gave the Nigerian government an 11-day ultimatum to release its leader.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has threatened to lockdown the Southeast Region of Nigeria if the Federal Government fails to free its leader, Nnamdi Kanu unconditionally, before August 9, 2021.
The group also gave the Nigerian government an 11-day ultimatum to release its leader.
IPOB Head, Directorate of State, Mazi Chika Edoziem, in a statement, said the Southeast Region of Nigeria would be totally locked down if Kanu is not released before the given date.
Edoziem, in a statement issued on Wednesday, explained that the lockdown is to ensure the federal government released Kanu “hale and hearty.”
The statement reads partly: “The global community knows that self-determination is not a crime, the Nigerian government equally know that self-determination does not constitute any known offence stipulated in their constitution and therefore do not have any case against the leader of IPOB, Mazi Kanu.
“In recognition of the above fact and truth, the Directorate of State of IPOB, demands herewith an unconditional and immediate release of our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on or before the 8th day of August 2021, failing which we shall commence a weekly Lockdown of Biafra land starting from 9th August 2021.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this total lockdown of Biafra land will take place every Monday until our leader is released unconditionally.
“This weekly lockdown is simply one of the measures we shall put in place to ensure that our leader is released hale and hearty.”
Kanu is currently detained under the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS.
He has been in DSS custody after he was rearrested and repatriated from an African country, believed to be Kenya.
Upon his return, Justice Binta Nyako of an Abuja Federal High Court had remanded him in the custody of the DSS.
The secret police, however, failed to produce Kanu in court on Monday citing logistics as reasons for the absence of the Biafra agitator.
