South-east Nigeria has lost an estimated N7.6 trillion in four years because the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) keeps forcing people to stay home on Mondays, according to a new report by SBM Intelligence.
SBM Intelligence titled the report ‘Four Years of Disruption’. The report shows how a protest that started to demand freedom for IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu has become a long-lasting economic and humanitarian crisis. The crisis includes violence, fear, and destroyed jobs.
In most parts of Abia, Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi, and Anambra states (which make up the south-east), SBM said Mondays now have no business activity. Streets stay empty and businesses remain closed.
People stay home not just because they support the cause, but also because violent groups attack anyone who tries to work on Mondays, the report said.
“The sit-at-home protests, enforced by IPOB since 2021, have transformed from a symbolic act of dissent into a protracted crisis with devastating socioeconomic and security consequences for Southeast Nigeria,” the report reads.
“The region has suffered staggering losses, including N7.6 trillion in economic damage, 776 fatalities, and systemic disruptions to education, governance, and livelihoods.
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“Initially rooted in legitimate grievances over marginalisation and the detention of Nnamdi Kanu, the movement has been hijacked by violence, criminality, and internal fragmentation, eroding public support and deepening instability.”
Small businesses lose about N4.6 trillion every year, while transport companies lose between N10 billion and N13 billion every Monday when groups force the shutdown, the SBM report said.
SBM Intelligence said IPOB started the weekly Monday shutdown across the south-east in 2021. At first, people followed it mainly to show support.
“These losses stem from widespread market closures, disrupted supply chains, and the inability of businesses, particularly SMEs, to operate effectively,” the report said.
“Micro-businesses have been particularly hard-hit, with annual losses reported at approximately N4.6 trillion due to the recurring sit-at-home days.
“The impact is evident in both urban and rural areas. Large commercial hubs like Onitsha Main Market, one of Africa’s largest, have been repeatedly forced to close, resulting in missed transactions and financial strain for traders and consumers.”
The report also found that 776 people died and 332 violent attacks happened between 2021 and 2025. Imo and Anambra states had more than half of these deaths.
IPOB’s armed wing — the Eastern Security Network (ESN) — and other criminal gangs force people to follow the sit-at-home order by burning buildings, kidnapping people, and killing targeted victims, according to SBM Intelligence.
SBM said government forces have tried to bring things back to normal in states like Enugu and Ebonyi. Peter Mbah, the governor of Enugu, imposed penalties for compliance with the sit-at-home order, which helped bring some normalcy back to Enugu.
