Protest Sitting at Home Nigeria Southeast N7.6Trn in four years

A new report by SBM Intelligence has revealed that the southeastern region of Nigeria has suffered a surprising N7.6 trillion in economic losses over the past four years, mainly because of the prolonged enforcement of the order to sit in a house forced by the native Biafra (IPOB).

The report, entitled “Four Years of Disruption,” described a serious picture of how the protest movement, initially launched in 2021 to demand the release of IPOB leaders Nnamdi Kanu, has spinned into an eternal economic, social and security crisis.

According to findings, every Monday in countries such as Abia, Enugu, IMO, Ebonyi, and Anambra are now marked by quiet roads, closed markets, and quiet workplaces. What began as a symbolic resistance, from time to time, has been upheld loudly, making many residents gripped by fear.

“Protest sitting at home, upheld by Ipob since 2021, has changed from symbolic actions of differences of opinion into a protracted crisis with socioeconomic and security consequences that destroyed Southeast Nigeria,” the report said.

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The financial toll has become a disaster. Micro and small businesses, the regional economic backbone, reportedly lost N4.6 trillion per year due to the forced closure. Transportation operators lose between N10 billion and N13 billion every Monday, while supply chains remain repeatedly disrupted.

The main commercial center, including the main market onitsha, one of the largest in West Africa, has become the most devastated. This report highlights how many traders face increased losses, with suspended transactions and livelihoods that depend on balance.

Beyond the economic impact, human costs are equally worrying. Between 2021 and 2025, SBM documented 776 deaths and more than 330 violent incidents related to enforcement sitting at home. IMO and Anambra countries recorded the highest death. Eastern Security Network (ESN), IPOB’s armed wings, along with other criminal groups, have been involved in attacks involving targeted burning, kidnapping, and murder.

“The movement, which has been rooted in the original political complaints, has since been hijacked by violence, crime, and internal division,” the report said. “This shift not only erodes public support but also deepens the instability in the region.”

Efforts by the state government to restore normal conditions have seen various results. In Enugu, Governor Peter Mbah introduced sanctions to individuals and institutions that comply with orders to sit at home, contribute to the gradual return of business activities in several parts of the country. Similar enforcement efforts have been observed in Ebonyi and other states.

However, for many people in this region, scars from the last four years have remained deep. From the market women who were forced to leave their kiosks, to students who lost critical school days, to families who mourn the loss of loved ones, the story of sitting at home had left an unfinished sign.

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