The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), a prominent sociopolitical youth organization in the South East geopolitical zone, has called on the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to revoke its sit-at-home directive scheduled for May 30.
This directive, issued by IPOB to commemorate “Biafra Heroes Day” in honor of those who died during the civil war between 1967 and 1970, has drawn significant criticism.
COSEYL’s president general, Comrade Goodluck Ibem, released a statement on Tuesday highlighting the potential disruption the sit-at-home order would cause to the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in the region.
Ibem emphasized that enforcing the directive would prevent over 300,000 candidates in the South East from writing their mathematics exam, which is scheduled for Thursday.
He described the directive as “grossly insensitive,” noting the detrimental impact it would have on students, particularly those who may have received financial support to register for the exams.
“We cannot afford to jeopardize the future of our children over a sit-at-home order.
Education is paramount and must not be interrupted,” Ibem stated.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Aboki Danjuma, has urged law-abiding residents to disregard the unlawful sit-at-home order from IPOB and to continue with their daily activities without fear.
In a statement by Henry Okoye, the police spokesman in the state, Danjuma assured residents that comprehensive security measures had been implemented to prevent any potential threats from insurgent groups.
“Security operatives from various agencies, including the police, military, NSCDC, immigration, and fire service, have been deployed to conduct confidence-building patrols and operations across the 27 LGAs of the state to ensure public safety,” Danjuma said.
He further warned that any individuals attempting to enforce the illegal sit-at-home order would face severe legal consequences.
As the date for the sit-at-home directive approaches, tensions remain high, with various stakeholders appealing for calm and rational decision-making to avoid unnecessary disruptions to the education and daily lives of residents in the South East region.
