The American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID), a United States-based nonprofit organization of military veterans of Igbo ancestry, has declared its support for the sit-at-home scheduled for Monday, February 2, 2026, across Nigeria’s Southeast.
In a statement signed by its President, Dr. Sylvester Onyia, and Secretary, Godson Obiagwu, AVID said the action, announced by Emma Powerful on behalf of a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) loyal to its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, represents a peaceful show of unity and protest against what it described as persistent injustices against the Igbo people.
The group praised traders in Onitsha for resisting efforts by Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, to discourage the weekly sit-at-home, describing the action as a non-violent means of expressing opposition to marginalization and the continued detention of Kanu.
AVID said its members, as U.S. military veterans of Igbo heritage, regard the sit-at-home as a legitimate form of civic expression, drawing parallels with the resilience shown by the Igbo people during the Biafran War. According to the group, the stance taken by Onitsha traders symbolizes endurance and collective resolve.
The organization urged residents of the former Biafra region to observe the sit-at-home in solidarity, while stressing that participation should remain voluntary and within the bounds of the law.
AVID also renewed its call for the immediate release of Kanu and appealed to the Nigerian government to engage in meaningful dialogue to address grievances in the Southeast.
The group dismissed what it described as conflicting directives from other entities or factions, warning that such actions could undermine unity among Biafrans.
It further called on the international community, including the United States government, to closely monitor developments in the region and support efforts aimed at achieving a peaceful and just resolution.
“AVID commends the Onitsha traders for their courageous rejection of Governor Charles Soludo’s unnecessarily forceful directives aimed at undermining the longstanding Monday sit-at-home tradition, which has served as a non-violent protest against systemic oppression, marginalization, and the unlawful detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them and urge all Biafrans to observe this sit-at-home in solidarity, honoring the sacrifices made for justice and self-determination”, the statement partly reads.
