The Indigenous People of Biafra says some South East governors are clamping down on its members because its leader Nnamdi Kanu called off the boycott of the general elections

By Emeka Ejere

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, says the South-East governors have intensified their clampdown on its members through illegal midnight raids and kidnapping, following the call-off of its election boycott as directed by Nnamdi Kanu, its leader.

The secessionist group had earlier slated the Biafran referendum for February 16, the earlier date for Nigeria’s presidential and National Assembly elections, vowing to boycott the polls, before the exercise was postponed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

IPOB said most of Igbo governors are not happy with it because their previous strategy of using its election boycott as cover to rig the vote in favour of President Mohammadu Buhari has been frustrated.

The group claims that it is more so in Anambra State, where Willie Obiano, its governor, has instructed the Nigerian Army and police to “deploy into our villages to abduct and kill anybody who is perceived to be against voting for Jubril-Buhari and APC in the state.”

IPOB, however, said it would be forced to tackle Obiano soon over his involvement in the high number of arrest of its members in Anambra State.

A statement by Emma Powerful, IPOB media and publicity secretary, noted that there have been incessant harassment, abduction, arrest and torture including house to house search for innocent and unarmed civilians in Aguata, Orumba North and South Local Government Areas of the state, perceived to be members of IPOB.

The statement read in part:  “We the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its leadership worldwide consider it imperative to put the civilized world on notice concerning the incessant harassment, abduction, arrest and torture including house to house search for innocent and unarmed civilians in Aguata, Orumba North and South Local Government Areas of Anambra State.

“Since our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu lifted the ban on election boycott on Thursday night in the whole of Biafraland, Willie Obiano of Anambra State and other Igbo state governors subservient to Fulani caliphate and beholden to Jubril-Buhari have intensified their clampdown on IPOB through illegal midnight raids and kidnapping.

“We are fully aware that most of Igbo governors are not happy with IPOB because their previous strategy of using our election boycott as cover to rig the vote in favour of Jubril-Buhari, particularly in Anambra State where Willie Obiano has instructed the Fulani Muslim dominated Nigerian Army and police to deploy into our villages to abduct and kill anybody who is perceived to be against voting for Jubril-Buhari and APC in the state.’’

The group further said, “We are calling on the chattering class and people who may come in defense of Willie Obiano in the future to take cognisance of what he is doing to innocent men, women and their families in the name of serving his Fulani masters. His associates should caution him about the inevitable consequences of tampering with innocent law-abiding families in Anambra State because when we start with him, let his hired praise singers not say they were not warned in advance.

“Those condoning this evil by Obiano will be the first to blame IPOB any day we choose to confront Obiano. Let this press statement serve as a warning and reminder of what will befall Obiano in months to come,” the group said.

IPOB described itself as a peaceful mass movement, who has remained non- violent, despite all the provocations and deliberate attempt to push her into armed struggle.

– Feb. 22, 2019 @ 04:09 GMT |