MASSOB Orders Sit-At-Home For May 30 Biafra Day Commemoration

The leadership of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB has directed all churches across the South-East and parts of the South-South to hold special memorial and thanksgiving services on Sunday, May 31, 2026.
The group said the services are meant to honour and remember millions of lives lost in the Nigerian-Biafran civil war.
The directive is part of activities marking the 59th anniversary of the declaration of Biafra by the late General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu on May 30, 1967.

This was disclosed in a statement by the National Director of Information of MASSOB, Edeson Samuel.
This year’s anniversary was a major milestone in the ongoing struggle for self-determination, the statement said, according to the faction of the movement led by Comrade Uchenna Madu.
As part of the commemoration, the separatist group had earlier declared a mandatory sit-at-home order on Saturday, May 30, 2026, across the region, which it described as a day of sober reflection, remembrance and civil disobedience.
Samuel said: “MASSOB has earlier announced that all markets, public and private motor parks, schools, banks and other public business premises shall remain closed from 6 am to 4pm on 30th May, 2026.
“The closing of these public places and services are signs of honour, respect and patriotism to our fatherland. It is a mark of appreciation and acknowledgement of the numerous sacrifices and prices our fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters rendered for Biafra during the three years of war.”
However, the pro-Biafra group warned its members against any form of public gathering that could lead to confrontations with security agencies.
The statement said there would be no physical demonstrations, street marches, processions or any other public functions anywhere in the region on May 30.
The group also said it is leveraging the 59th anniversary to show solidarity with the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (Indigenous People of Biafra), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu (Nnamdi Kanu), while demanding his immediate and unconditional release from state custody.
MASSOB said major cities in the region are likely to be heavily deployed with security agents before the anniversary and urged residents to stay firm.
“MASSOB is aware that the armed Nigerian Army, Mobile Police, DSS operatives and Civil Defence will be heavily deployed in major cities. ’No matter how much security intimidation, killings, detention or oppression, the willpower of an indigenous people for self-determination will never be stopped,’ the statement said.