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Tag: IPOB

  • IPOB speaks on printing Biafra currency, operation of government in exile

    IPOB speaks on printing Biafra currency, operation of government in exile

    The Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB) on Wednesday explained their stance on printing Biafra currency and operation of  a government in exile.

    Emma Powerful, IPOB’s spokesman issued a warning to those he described as autopilot to desist from such a move.

    Powerful made this known via a statement he  signed and released on Wednesday.

    According to Powerful’s statement, IPOB has distanced itself from an autopilot group, declaring that the group has no faction.

    Powerful also distanced IPOB from those operating Radio Biafra in the United States.

    He noted that those operating under the guise of the Directorate of State are not members of IPOB.

    The statement read in parts: “We the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under the command and leadership of the great liberator Nnamdi Kanu once again reiterate that IPOB is not part of the formation of Biafra government in exile anywhere.

    “The people behind the shambolic Radio Biafra government in exile in the USA are not IPOB members, and they should stop linking themselves to us.

    “Those piloting government in exile in the USA are not IPOB members, and they don’t mean well for Biafra freedom and restoration.

    “IPOB has no plan to print Biafra currency, stamps, and other important state documents because we are not yet a sovereign nation. If we print currencies now, where can they be used as legal tender?”

  • 2023 Elections: We will reciprocate any attack on Igbos – IPOB

    2023 Elections: We will reciprocate any attack on Igbos – IPOB

    Ahead of the February 25 presidential and National Assembly in the country, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has warned against attacking Igbos during the polls.

    According to  Emma Powerful,  IPOB’s spokesman,  the group would reciprocate any attack on Igbos during the forthcoming elections.

    In a statement, Powerful said IPOB would not stand by and allow anybody to threaten or attack Igbos during the elections.

    Powerful said: “The attention of the global movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under the command and leadership of our great leader Mazi Nnamdi KANU has been drawn to a threat from a small village Monarch in Yoruba Land to the effect that they will deal with non-indigenes, especially Ndigbo who doesn’t vote in the upcoming elections according to the wish of the monarch. This sort of threat tells you all you need to know about the Nigerian selection process, which they like to call an election.

    “IPOB as a freedom movement do reaffirm our non-recognition and or participation of (in) the Nigerian electoral process because the results do not represent the will of the people, and this is why an idiot somewhere will have the gumption to threaten what they called non-indigenes and the Igbo nation in particular. While we Biafrans await a date for Referendum, nobody should threaten Ndigbo and Biafrans residing temporarily in other parts of Nigeria for any reason.

    “IPOB want to state unequivocally that any attack in any part of Nigeria on the Biafran people or the Igbo Nation or their properties on account of the choice of individuals to participate and vote according to their conviction during this so-called election will be met with adequate and commensurate action.

    “We urge men and women of good conscience in the North and West to caution their traditional rulers and politicians who want to use Ndigbo and Biafrans as scapegoats in this skewed election process to be very careful and retrace their steps. Gone are the days when Ndigbo will be threatened and intimidated during elections. As long as Biafrans have not been given the opportunity to exit Nigeria via a referendum, IPOB will not stand by and watch anyone Nigerian or non-Nigerian to threaten Biafrans or carry out such threats against us and get away with it.

    “Even as IPOB do not wish to be drawn into the ZOO politics, nobody has the right to threaten Ndigbo or attempt to compel them to vote for a particular party or candidate. Any Biafran who wants to vote in this election has the right to vote for any party or candidate of his/her choice, and nobody should direct or threaten them to vote for a particular party in their community or state. If anyone threatens to attack Ndigbo and Biafrans or non-indigenes residents in your place, be rest assured that the people being attacked will not sit and watch their property and life being destroyed and will activate their right to Self Defence.

    “We are urging Ndigbo, Biafrans and non-indigenes everywhere to be prepared to defend their property, family and their own lives during and after this election period. Do not allow anyone to use you or your family as a sacrificial lamb this time around.

    “It is very imperative that we remind those who think highly of themselves and believe they will resort to violence and attack Biafrans that they do not have the monopoly of violence. Until Referendum is conducted and Biafrans exit Nigeria, those who have the habit of threatening and attacking Ndigbo must understand that it will not be business as usual this time around because their lives also will be in danger when they attack others.

    “These nitwits believe that Biafrans are soft targets to threaten and attack at will well they should know that it will not be so this time around. These morons never threatened fulani not vote for any other party except their own party and their own person but rather directed their misguided outbursts against Biafrans and Indigbo. We dare them to attack NDIGBO and Biafrans this time around and see what will happen.”

    Powerful urged Igbos to defend themselves “as long as Nigeria forced and kept us into this unwanted contraption, we are advising Biafrans to be fully ready to meet the coming challenge squarely and unwaveringly.”

    Baring any last minute change of date, INEC has fixed the presidential election in the country on the 25th of February, while Governorship/State Assembly election would hold on the 11th of March.

  • Just In: Court disbands Ebubeagu security outfit

    Just In: Court disbands Ebubeagu security outfit

    The Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki on Tuesday disbanded the South-East security outfit Ebubeagu in Ebonyi State.

    According to the court, the disbandment of the security outfit was as a result of human rights abuses, extortions, illegal arrests and use of fire arms.

    The South Eastern regional security outfit called Ebubeagu on 12th April 2021. This latter group came after long public pressure from the citizens due to the rising insecurity.

    The operations of these regional networks of security to support policing in their various zones attracts different levels of legitimation from the population in their operational bases.

    At the time the Ebubeagu security outfit was launched, ESN was already confronting the violent herdsmen in different parts of the South East. IPOB in question had declared that it was not going to coexist with Ebubeagu in the region. Besides, the operations of Ebubeagu have been trailed by reports of rights abuses, torture and extra-judicial killings. In Ebonyi State, it was reported that the security outfit is used to harassment of perceived enemies of the State Government. In Imo State, several deaths have been linked to Ebubeagu. Also, the widespread misgiving about the security outfit led to an allegation that they overlapped into Oba in Anambra State recently to attack a prominent member of the community. Overall, Ebubeagu tends not to command the required goodwill of a localised security outfit to support security in the South East.

  • IPOB denies ordering Sit-At-Home during 2023 polls

    IPOB denies ordering Sit-At-Home during 2023 polls

    Ahead of the forthcoming elections the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has called against the continuous attacks on facilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission in some parts of the South-East, especially within Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State and Orsuihiteukwa in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State.

    IPOB also denied ordering any sit-at-home in the South-East during the election period.

    The group has urged the people of Biafra to disregard any rumour directing them to sit-At-Home during the election periods.

    In a statement on Monday, the IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, claimed that those attacking INEC facilities were primarily funded and sponsored by unscrupulous politicians to demonise IPOB and the Eastern Security Network.

    The group insisted that they had no interest in the Nigeria election, adding that its only demand is a referendum date to decide their political, social and economic future.

    It said, “IPOB condemns the recent attacks on INEC offices and staff in Ihiala LGA, Anambra State. The criminal gangs operating within Ihiala LGA and Orsuihiteukwa in Orsu LGA, Imo State are primarily funded and sponsored by unscrupulous politicians to demonise IPOB and ESN operatives.

    “We maintain that we have no interest in the selection process called Nigeria election. Hence, we refrained from making any statement concerning the jamboree. Our only demand is a referendum date for us to decide our political, social and economic future either in a united Nigeria or independent Biafra nation.

    “IPOB and ESN operatives did not ask any group to attack INEC facilities for whatever reason, nor did we issue any sit-at-home order within the election period.

    “Anybody linking IPOB to the malicious sit-at-home order must be very ignorant. IPOB has its own channels to disseminate information, through its media and publicity secretary, Emma Powerful, or through an official IPOB memo signed by the Head of the directorate of state of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Chika Edoziem. Any IPOB public information that is not from the above-mentioned channels should be disregarded.

    “We urge our people not to pay attention to any fake information linking IPOB to criminal activities of infiltrators and collaborators. IPOB volunteers and ESN operatives will make Biafraland very uncomfortable to criminal gangs paid to intimidate our people and blackmail our peaceful movement. Nigeria security agencies who have been aiding, abetting and supporting these criminals recruited and funded by politicians must steer clear because we will unleash our venom on those who want to blackmail IPOB.

    “The task ahead is enormous, and our enemies are relentlessly exploiting every means to destroy IPOB through this election, but we won’t allow them to continue in their obnoxious plan to destroy IPOB and ESN operatives and derail our freedom march.

    “The attacks on INEC facilities within this period are not supported by IPOB, because that will not add any positive value to our struggle. We are only seeking Biafra freedom through peaceful means and not through violence.”

  • Police launch manhunt for killers of Imo LG Sole Administrator

    Police launch manhunt for killers of Imo LG Sole Administrator

    The Police Command in Imo says it has launched a manhunt for the abductors and killers of the Sole Administrator of Ideato North Local Government Council, Mr Christopher Ohizu.

    The command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Henry Okoye, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday in Owerri.

    Recall that Ohizu’s house, located at Arondizuogu, was attacked and razed by gunmen at about 11: 00 p.m. on Jan. 19.

    He was later abducted, along with two other persons, to an unknown place, while the vehicles parked within his premises were burnt.

    The police spokesperson said that Ohizu was subsequently killed by the suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN).

    Okoye said: “The command is aware of the iniquitous and obscene video that has gone viral on social media where a man, suspected to be the abducted Ideato North LGA sole administrator, was seen kneeling down, with his hands tied, undergoing inhuman act.

    “The man was subsequently killed by suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN).

    “The command wishes to inform the good people of the state that we are already on top of the situation, following a high-powered investigation team, inaugurated by the Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Barde.”

    Okoye said the team had commenced technical investigation from the day of the abduction.

    He also stated that the team had been on the trail of the hoodlums, where tremendous progress was being made before the surfacing of the obscene video.

    The police spokesperson noted that the command’s tactical teams were not relenting in their efforts at arresting and unraveling the identity of the perpetrators of the dastardly act.

    He assured the people of the state that the command would ensure that the perpetrators were made to face the full wrath of the law.

    Okoye called on the good Ideato North community and the general public to remain calm and go about their lawful businesses.

    “The police and other security agencies are working assiduously, as adequate security measures have been put in place to forestall future occurrence,” he said.

    The police spokesman advised all and sundry to assist the police with credible information and report any clandestine activities or suspicious persons seen in their communities to the nearest police station.

    He urged members of the public to call the command’s emergency numbers: 08034773600 or 08098880197 to volunteer useful information that could lead to the arrest of the criminals.

  • Letter from Emeka Odimegwu Ojukwu – By Hope O’Rukevbe Eghagha

    Letter from Emeka Odimegwu Ojukwu – By Hope O’Rukevbe Eghagha

    If you had any doubts about the authenticity of this letter, let me assure you that I am still involved, very involved in all that you do, and experience in our beleaguered country, especially with the stupid wanton killings in the southeast, by unknown gunmen, the ubiquitous Fulani herdsmen, Eastern Security Network and the Buhari-government-outlawed-IPOB. And we are deeply upset hereabouts. Not even in the period preceding the 1967 conflagration did the nation witness so much brutality, hopelessness, uncertainty, and poverty. It is unbecoming of a nation so blessed with natural and human resources!

    How are you all? We know things are not rosy. The entire world is currently in a turmoil. Poverty and hunger are real. Indeed, Nigerians are coping better with the economic hardship than Europeans who have lived a life of luxury. Else, how do you account for a worker on a 30k monthly salary still paying school fees for three kids and feeding once a day and still smiling to church or the Mosque? It is not a happy thing. No, not a happy situation.

    I’m involved not simply with my beautiful, delectable-First Lady-slapping Bianca whom I parted with when I joined the ancestors! I’m involved in the Nigeria project; an arcane project which was cobbled together by the colonial old-fashioned rapacious British, battered by politicians, and militarized by adventurists in the Nigeria Army and thrown into confusion by the extremists occupying Aso Rock and some State government Houses, north and south currently. I’m still at a loss why and how the people of Imo State allow Hope Uzodinma to happen. We know the role of the Supreme Court in the whole matter, and we are waiting for those renegades to join us and face interrogation from their ancestors! Injustice fuels rebellion. Guerilla rebellion creates permanent instability, thereby making progress difficult or impossible. In a sense, Nigeria is the very definition of injustice. I will dwell on this at some length in future.

    It is true that I led the movement to dismember Nigeria into different sovereign nations. Looking back now, I do not regret the breakaway effort. It is also true that if that quest for Biafra had succeeded the nation would have been better for it. Nigeria can only fully develop its potential in a truly federal state; not the unitary system that was foisted by the military and now sustained by civilians. Isn’t that why different movements for ethnic and regional autonomy have sprung up? This is not the purpose of my letter which I am writing on behalf of the Assembly of Past Stakeholders in the Celestial realm! Sorry for going into my personal thoughts.

    I’m involved at a higher, indeed the highest level, that of an ancestral statesman, sitting in conference with such veterans as Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Tafawa Balewa, Anthony Enahoro, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, JS Tarka, KO Mbadiwe, Abubakar Rimi, Aminu Kano, Efe Jereton-Mariere, Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh (Omimi Ejoh), Sir Aderemi Adesoji, Chief Akintola, Umaru Dikko, Shehu Shagari, and the many others. We asked the soldiers to stand aside because we haven’t forgiven them for plunging the nation into years of administrative misadventure. Murtala Mohammed has been in the forefront of apologia, stating that their intervention was in the national interest. Who determines the national interest?

    The last letter from Chief Awolowo to your earthling conveyed our worries. I was advised to write this time because of the uncertain situation in the southeastern part of the country. It is the belief of Conference that the armed boys in the southeast are killing that region. What sense does it make to order all peoples in Igbo land to sit at home every Monday, the first day f business? Who does it help? Who does it hurt? Where did such foolishness, unknown among the Igbo spring from? I am at a loss.

    So, this is an appeal from me, erstwhile main fighter for Igbo liberation to my people. I know that you are yet to reap the state benefit of reintegration after the civil war. But my advice is that you should reconsider your strategy. Conference of Elders here has decided not to endorse any candidate. Out of respect for plurality and the need to remain united up here, we have decided that every Nigerian should vote according to their conscience. The presidential contest is a four-way track. They all have their strengths. I have my candidate and have since sent my personal endorsement to the leaders in Awka, Enugu, Owerri, Aba, and Abakaliki. Some of them were arguing with me about mainstream politics, but I ignored them. They argued that Ifeanyi is also our son. No problem with that. He has my support too. Let the kite perch. Let the eagle perch. One of them will eat the lion share and the reward will come to Ndigbo. This is my personal response to them though as a conference we have not endorsed any candidate.

    Am I talking from both sides of the mouth? You should be discerning enough to know that the wind could blow in any direction. We are not clairvoyant yet, though we have joined the occupants of the multiple-storey building. So, we are not too certain. By the way, what has become of Nigeria Air? There was so much noise about flying the Nigerian Flag through the skies. Too bad. A national carrier will give the nation great mileage apart from ferrying millions of Nigerians across the world daily!

    It is foolishness to continue to impot fuel. It is another level of foolishness to hinge the stoppage of fuel importation on one man, I mean, Dangote. This is the time to diversify things. What has happened to the country with cement monopoly should not be replicated in the oil sector. The danger is that if anything goes wrong, we will return to Square One. Let a thousand flowers bloom in the fuel refining business. It is our considered view that a southern businessman or a group of southern businessmen should float a refinery too. Such a project should be in the Niger Delta. Equity demands this.

    Finally, we wish you well as you move nearer the month of February when elections will be held. We are not likely to write another letter till after the elections. Just remember that there is life after elections.

  • US lawmaker, Jarvis Johnson demands Kanu’s release from detention

    US lawmaker, Jarvis Johnson demands Kanu’s release from detention

    The member representing District 139 in the Texas House of Representatives, Jarvis Johnson, has asked the Federal Government to immediately release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, from detention.

    In a statement released on Monday, Johnson accused the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), regime of engaging in “genocide and crimes against Biafrans.”

    He called on the US government to compel the Nigerian government to immediately release the “foremost freedom fighter.”

    “Mazi Kanu is the foremost Freedom Fighter for the rights of oppressed people in Nigeria. He has been in solitary confinement for over 19 months after he was kidnapped in Kenya, tortured, and illegally taken to Nigeria. In July 2022, a United Nations Working Group, after its deliberations on his matter, called for his unconditional release.

    “The Nigerian Government has not complied. On October 22, several Nigerian trial and appeals courts, acquitted and discharged him of all the bogus charges levied against him by the Nigerian government. The Nigerian government has refused to obey the orders of its own courts, and Kanu remains in solitary confinement enforced by its (FG’s) Secret Police.

    “He has been denied access to his doctors and to the regular supply of his medications. His health has increasingly deteriorated, and it is now feared that he may die in solitary confinement. Kanu’s only offence is that he is the leading advocate for the freedom of all oppressed Nigerians, and for a referendum on the Biafran issue. The right of free speech including political advocacy is a cornerstone of all democracies.

    “At a time when democracy is threatened globally, it is imperative that we all join hands to protect Kanu’s right of freedom of speech. The illegal kidnapping, torture, and solitary confinement of Kanu offends our democratic norms. So does the willful disobedience of the judgments of its own courts by the Nigerian government.

    “I am demanding for the immediate release of Kanu. The government of Nigeria needs to comply with the UN Mandate and the Orders of its own Courts. The Nigerian government is carrying out another form of genocide, one citizen at a time. I am calling on the American government to get involved to stop this genocide. We have protected other countries around this world to help vulnerable populations; we need to do the same for Nigeria and its Biafran citizens,” Johnson stated.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services since June 2021 when he was re-arrested in Kenya and returned to Nigeria by the Nigerian government for continued trial on treasonable felony and terrorism charges pressed against him by the government.

    In October 2022, a three-man panel of Court of Appeal judges in their unanimous decision ruled that Kanu’s rendition from Kenya was illegal.

    The court had also earlier discharged and acquitted Kanu of all the charges against him.

  • Why Peter Obi will be national security risk if elected – Omokri

    Why Peter Obi will be national security risk if elected – Omokri

    Former media aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri has accused Labour Party (LP), presidential candidate, Peter Obi of working with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), saying it poses a security threat to the nation if he becomes the president of Nigeria.

    TheNewsGuru reports that Omokri took to his Twitter page to claim that Obi defended Eastern Security Network (ESN) and met with IPOB after the Federal government proscribed it as a terrorist group.

    He wrote: Peter Obi is an IPOB compliant candidate, who defended ESN and admitted meeting them after IPOB was classified as a terror group. The IPOB flag is on his Hero beer. He can be an IPOB President, but should NEVER be Nigeria’s president. It is a national security risk!

    See Tweet:

  • Abducted female officer not rescued yet – Nigerian Army

    Abducted female officer not rescued yet – Nigerian Army

    The Nigerian Army (NA) has disclosed Lieutenant P. P. Johnson, a female officer who was abducted while visiting her grandmother in Aku-Okigwe in Imo state is yet to be rescued.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations made the disclosure in a statement on Friday.

    Recall that Lieutenant P. P. Johnson was abducted by unknown gunmen on Monday 26 December 2022 shortly after completing her Cadet training and subsequent commissioning as a Lieutenant into the Nigerian Army.

    A video footage of her abduction emerged on social media where her abductors claimed the abduction was in line with their fight for Biafra against the Nigerian State.

    The statement reads: “It is instructive that the officer’s circumstance as a woman and a Nigerian citizen of South Eastern extraction did not dissuade her abductors from dehumanizing her in their mindless attempt to commit atrocities under the guise of fighting for Biafra.

    “This evidently is another pointer to the myriads of crimes being unleashed by IPOB/ ESN on Ndigbo, the very people they claim to be fighting for their emancipation.

    “It should therefore be crystal clear to those who are still in doubt of the true status of these groups, that IPOB/ESN are terrorists, masquerading as freedom fighters and do not deserve the support of anyone particularly the good people of South East Nigeria.

    “The NA wishes to state that the information making the rounds is unsubstantiated as the officer is yet to be released or rescued from her abductors.

    “Likewise, the video footage being circulated and associated with the rescue claim is an old video of the arrest of a suspect earlier effected by troops.

    “Much as we appreciate the concern and goodwill of the general public for her safe rescue, we also wish to note that the information on the rescue of the officer did not emanate from the NA.

    “The Nigerian Army will leave no stone unturned in its effort to rescue the officer and bring the perpetrators to book. We appeal to the general public to provide credible and reliable information that could lead to her safe rescue and arrest of the perpetrators”.

  • How we killed ex-Presidential Aide, Ahmed Gulak – Suspect

    How we killed ex-Presidential Aide, Ahmed Gulak – Suspect

    Mr Chinwendu Nwagwu, a suspected leader of the gang that killed Mr Ahmed Gulak, has narrated how he and members of his gang killed the former Presidential Aide.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Police in Imo State disclosed arresting Mr Nwagwu at his country home in Nguru, Aboh Mbaise council area of the State on December 25.

    In addition to confessing to killing Gulak, Nwagwu claimed responsibility for burning down police stations and INEC offices in the State.

    Spokesperson of the police in Imo, CSP Michael Abattam disclosed that the suspect was paraded at the Command’s Headquarters, in Owerri, on Wednesday.

    Abattam said that Nwagwu, popularly known as ‘Onye Army ‘, confessed to joining the Nigerian Army in 2013 but left in 2021 and later joined the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the armed wing of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    He said that Nwagwu further confessed to leading the gang that attacked offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ihitte-Uboma and Isiala Mbano council areas as well as the state headquarters in Owerri.

    According to him, Nwagwu was arrested at his country home in Nguru, Aboh Mbaise council area of the state on Dec. 25.

    He also said that the suspect confessed to the use of black magic to prevent bullets from penetrating his body,  adding that several items were recovered from his home upon his arrest.

    Abattam listed the items to include five pump action guns, four locally-made pistols, two cut-to-size double barrelled guns, 50 rounds of live cartridges, locally-made hand grenades and ESN regalia.

    “He rose to become commander in the ESN and personally confessed to have trained over 100 persons in the IPOB.

    He also confessed to have been part of those who burnt police stations, INEC offices and killed several innocent people.

    “He confessed to a recent kidnap of expatriate engineers along the Umuna/Okigwe road , murder of a native doctor in Nguru, Aboh Mbaise council area of Imo and killing of a police inspector and a police sergeant in Aboh Mbaise Police Station.

    “He confessed to leading the burning of several police stations, the killing of a truck driver along Mbaise road, attack of Owerri Correctional Centre and Police Headquarters in Imo,” he said.

    Abattam added that Nwagwu, who confirmed his involvement in the killing of Gulak, said his pay masters, including some traditional rulers, had deserted him and  declared him wanted.

    He added that he had been praying to come in contact with security operatives, whom he believed would spare his life and give him a chance to legally defend himself.

    “When my gang member shot Gulak, the bullet didn’t penetrate his body, so I came down from our vehicle, removed the rings on his finger and shot him before the bullet eventually penetrated. He fell to the ground and died”, he said.