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Tag: IPOB

  • If we take up arms, hold Buhari responsible – IPOB

    The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Monday said President Muhammadu Buhari and the five governors of the southeastern states were working hard to criminalize it despite its non-violent stand.

    In a press release signed by Emma Powerful, media and publicity secretary of the group, he said the Buhari administration and the five governors were worried that despite the brazen provocation and attack against its leader and members, the group had remained non-violent.

    It said that President Buhari should be blamed if the group decided to shed its non-violent stand and take to arms as it has been pushed beyond the limit.

    “It was the Nigerian government and her security operatives that brought violence into the Biafra agitation, not IPOB. Should IPOB decide to engage in an armed struggle at a future date, the world must hold the government of Buhari, Igbo governors and Ohaneze Ndigbo responsible.

    “We always held peaceful rallies and protests all around major cities across Biafraland without any violent incident or objection from the masses, but they decided to tag us terrorists in order to justify the violent crackdown on innocent Biafran populations. Our happiness is that today the world can see that IPOB is innocent and have totally vindicated us,” he said.

    The group which referred to the governors and the leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo as political contractors said they were envious of IPOB’s popularity and the demonstrable feat it had achieved in the struggle.

  • Again, soldiers ransack Nnamdi Kanu’s home

    Nigerian army, yesterday ransacked the home of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, saying they were searching for “technical items.”

    The latest incursion was made known by the younger brother of the IPOB leader, Emmanuel Kanu, who lamented to journalists on phone that the raid was carried out even when the military was yet to account for the whereabouts of his brother and leader of IPOB.

    He alleged that household items were carted away by “the invaders,” including television sets, generators, clothes, among other belongings of the royal family of Afaraukwu Ibeku.

    According to him, the palace was “looted” following the raid.

    He therefore called on the international community to prevail on the Nigerian Army to stop further raiding of his father’s palace and to also account for the whereabouts of the IPOB leader.

    However, the desk officer of Operation Python Dance in charge of Abia State, who had always refused to reveal his identity when contacted on phone, confirmed the raid, saying it was a joint operation with the state police command.

    He denied that household items were removed from the home of the Kanus, insisting that “the things removed may be technical items” and that “somebody was arrested with weapon in the compound.”

    The Operation Python Dance desk officer said the joint operation at the home of IPOB leader was based on intelligence report at the disposal of the security agencies which, according to him, indicated that arms were hidden in the compound.

    The Abia State Police Command which was named as a party in the joint operation did not confirm its participation as phone calls put through to both the state police commissioner, Mr. Anthony Ogbizi and the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Geoffrey Ogbonna, did not yield positive results. Both men did not pick the calls and neither called back while the PPRO did not respond to text messages sent to him

    Meanwhile, IPOB has said boycotting the Anambra State governorship election is the only card left for its members living in the state to demonstrate their resolve to leave Nigeria through the conduct of a referendum.

    A statement by the group’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Emma Powerful, stated that IPOB members in Biafraland would boycott the Anambra gubernatorial election on November 18, 2017, describing it as the day of destiny for all lovers of freedom.

    The statement read: “Every genuine Biafran desiring of freedom for Biafra from this Islamic bondage of Hausa Fulani caliphate called Nigeria must not only stay at home on that day, but must also make sure those around them do not vote. November 18, 2017 is a date with history.

    “If we Biafrans succeed in demonstrating before international observers that we are serious about our freedom by locking down Anambra State on that day, the world will be in no doubt that Biafra is unstoppable. Our destiny is firmly in our hands.

    “We must teach corrupt Igbo politicians that money cannot buy IPOB because we are special breed untainted by the corrupt tendencies of Nigerian politics. Locking down Anambra State will pave the way for IPOB to announce a date for substantive referendum later next year with or without the approval of Nigeria.”

    The group said events in Catalonia and Kurdistan have pointed the way forward for it because it was clearly demonstrated by both nations that IPOB can call for and conduct its own referendum with or without the cooperation of Nigeria. It said that election boycott is the only legitimate tool left in the hands of oppressed people to register their displeasure with the ongoing genocide, arbitrary arrests and torture across Biafraland.

    The statement further added that the whole world was watching to see how serious the group was towards the realisation of Biafra, and that the successful boycott of the election come November 18 will prove to the entire world how determined they were towards having their own nation.

    “We are therefore asking every Biafran and IPOB member who believe in the supremacy of the restoration of Biafra over deceitful game of Nigerian politics to sit at home and not venture outdoor on the 18th November 2017 no matter the amount of threat.

    “IPOB under the supreme command and leadership of Nnamdi Kanu is determined to show the world how serious we are towards the restoration of Biafra. Come the 18th of November, the world will know that Biafrans cannot participate in a fraudulent election organised by those that came to our land, killed us and when we complained, they tagged us terrorists.

    “We must remain strong and resolute before our enemies as our leader taught us. He have come too far to allow propaganda and blackmail to derail us. As the blessed children of the Most High, it is our duty to let the world know that terrorists don’t vote.”

  • Photos: Group storm British High Commission, insist UK must produce Kanu to face trial in Nigeria

    ‎A civil society organisation, Advocates of Social Justice for All (ASJA) has called on the Government of the United Kingdom to release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to face his trial in the country.
    Last month, a Federal High Court in Abuja declared IPOB a terrorist organization after the federal government proscribed it and approached the court for an order to decare IPOB a terror group.
    Shortly after IPOB was outlawed, there were speculations in the media that the IPLOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu might have fled to the UK.
    Patriot Asogo Venantius Torkuma‎, the ASJA Executive Director who led the protest vowed to occupy the UK high commission daily until Kanu is produced by the UK authorities.
    The protesters numbering over 1000 defied the heavy down pour in Abuja and demanded for his extradition back to the country to face charges.
    “The Advocates of Social Justice for All is here today in fulfilment of its earlier demand that the United Kingdom, through its High Commission produce the leader of the terrorist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB), Nnamdi Kanu, whom we have now reliably verified to have escaped to London through the active collaboration of his second country.
    “We had clearly stated that we shall occupy this High Commission if the UK fails to produce Kanu.
    ” Our stance was informed by the knowledge that the UK was instrumental to the escape of the terrorist leader only for it to turn around to ask Nigerian authorities for clarification on the state and status of Kanu.
    “Because Nnamdi Kanu holds dual citizenship of Nigeria and the United Kingdom, we do not refute the High Commission’s right to inquire about its “citizen” so to speak.
    “But we do have issues with what the High Commission did in the period preceding when Kanu’s IPoB was declared a terrorist organization and what it did afterwards. It smacks of the worst case of double standard possible”.
    ASJA accused the UK government of having no qualms with its citizen peddling hate speech and directing IPoB members that bombed innocent citizens in Delta state, burnt a police station and killed a policeman in Abia state, attacked troops on official assignment, raped women, extorted traders, robbed and kidnapped Nigerians for ransom.
    The organisation said at no time did the UK, through its High Commission call Kanu to order.
    Torkuma‎, “It did not see this time as a period to negotiate for him to return to London as its citizen to go peddle his terrorism there. But it had the resources to provide emergency travel documents for the IPoB leader the moment a Nigerian Federal High Court ruled that he leads a terrorist organization. They colluded with other terrorist to ferret him away under the cover of darkness only to turn around to ask the Nigerian government to account for his whereabouts.

  • Ebonyi commences data capturing of IPOB members

    The Ebonyi State Government has commenced the data capturing and registration of members of the proscribed Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) from the state.

    The state Commissioner for Economic Empowerment and Job Creation, Uchenna Orji, disclosed this in Abakaliki.

    He said the exercise is going on simultaneously in the 13 local government areas of the state.

    According to him, the present administration has done a lot in the area of youth empowerment.

    He said the initiative by the state government apart from making the IPOB members economically independent, would also help to reduce social vices and other forms of criminality currently plaguing the society.

    The commissioner, who said the state government had extended its empowerment schemes to Ebonyi youths in other states of the federation, added that over 3,000 youths had been empowered in the state.

    “These IPOB youths are being registered in the Department of Education and Social Welfare in the LGAs. After their capturing, the state government will create a programme to train them in their chosen career,” Orji said.

  • Nnamdi Kanu didn’t escape to UK – IPOB

    The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has denied allegations by the former governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, that its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, escaped to the United Kingdom, through Malyasia, adding that Kanu had not been seen or heard from since the military invaded his country home and killed some members of his family.

    IPOB said that its lawyers would compel Dr Kalu to appear in court and speak on oath, all that he knew about Kanu’s whereabouts on October 17, when his case would come up before an Abuja High Court.

    According to IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, “It has come to the knowledge of the worldwide family of IPOB and it’s leadership, regarding the wild and widely reported comments of Orji Uzor Kalu on the whereabouts of our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

    This man Orji Uzor Kalu has again made claims that could only classify him as beholding to the Fulani caliphate interests. “His spurious claim that the overall leader of IPOB and prophet of our time Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has made his way to London via Malaysia is confirmation that he would do or say anything to escape his ongoing trial.

    “Worse still, he might be a hapless victim of a well-orchestrated blackmail by his masters… “We expect many more compromised Igbo leaders to follow suit in the coming days.

    After all selling collective Igbo interest and by extension that of Biafra has been their hallmark. It didn’t start today but their era is coming to an end. “Biafrans are now well accustomed to Hausa Fulani errand boys euphemistically referred to as Igbo leaders coming out once in a while to condemn what is in the collective interest of the people.

    They have no qualms about conniving with Hausa Fulani soldiers to kill and maim their own people as long as their meaningless and fake interests are protected.

    Only people who have no qualms about what happens to their natives man without honour, and devoid of shame will spout such unfounded, uncorroborated nonsense in the hope of letting Buratai off the hook for the abominable atrocities his soldiers committed in connection with the disappearance of our leader when his home was raided on September 14, 2017.

    “Both the United Kingdom and Malaysia are civilised countries and not as corrupt as Nigeria, where there is no accurate record of migration in and out of the country. What Orji Uzor Kalu is saying, in essence, is that United Kingdom government officials were lying when they rightfully demanded the whereabouts of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

    “For the information of those who may have fallen for the bare faced lies of Orji Uzor Kalu, United Kingdom is an island nation surrounded by water and it is near impossible to enter without being documented. If our leader is in the UK their government will not bother demanding that he be produced by the Buhari regime.

    Lying it seems runs deep in APC. “It is not right to apportion blame to Orji Uzor Kalu alone but, there is no other humiliating indictment of the an entire race than when those, who in traditional Igbo setting would not speak in public, suddenly rise up to spread falsehood… There seems to be an ongoing battle among so-called political leaders in Biafraland as to who will emerge the anointed son of the Fulani caliphate.”

    IPOB through her lawyers will compel Orji Uzor Kalu to appear in court alongside Buratai on the October 17, 2017 to tell the world, under oath, what he claims to know about the whereabouts of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. His laughable assertion that the IPOB leader is in London is confirmation that all along he has been working in tandem with Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu, Willie Obiano, Rochas Okprocha and others to slaughter as many IPOB family members as possible in order to please the core North.

    Any right thinking person, aware of the dubious upbringing of Orji Uzor Kalu and his fraudulent paternity claim against the famous businessman Nnanna Kalu, a man that publicly denied him, should dismiss his latest antics as another calculated attempt to endear himself more to his Hausa Fulani Islamic handlers.

    The question Orji Uzor Kalu must answer is this, if indeed you are Nnanna Kalu’s son, why do you tell people you come from Igbere when the man you fraudulently claim is your father is not from there.

    Our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu before his abduction by Nigerian Army has brought an end to the era of cash and carry politics of subservience to Hausa Fulani to the detriment of Biafra. That was why he flatly rejected your monetary offer to him to compromise his uncompromising stance on Biafra restoration. Thankfully today you have told the world that Nnamdi Kanu cannot be bought.

    The politics of selling the interest of the East to the North is why all Hausa Fulani stooges in government houses across the South East ganged up with their Hausa Fulani masters to kill Nnamdi Kanu and proscribe IPOB.

    Their wish having come through, they are now lining up to exonerate the military because they know their names will be mentioned as accomplices to mass murder of IPOB family members. Orji Uzor Kalu and his co-conspirators must await the fury of the people which is slowly building up.

    The same way Romans rose against the murderous Brutus and his gang that slayed the popular Julius Ceasar, so will the mob in Biafraland descend on all traitors in no distant time. Planning and executing the mass murder of IPOB members including our leader and looking to cover up your complicity with bare faced lies, will expose and render Orji Uzor Kalu inconsequential and expose him for the Hausa Fulani slave he truly is.

    The masses will set an example with the likes of Orji Uzor Kalu, Okezie Ikpeazu and Willie Obiano in no distant time that other quislings like them may learn. We have formally instructed our attorneys to add the name of Orji Uzor Kalu as one of those who might help in locating of our leader. He should be prepared to present his evidence in a court of law and be cross examined under oath. The surviving members of Kanu family have all denied ever talking to the lying Orji Uzor Kalu about the whereabouts of our leader, so he should be prepared to mount the witness box because his lies have gone on for far too long.

  • ‘IPOB, others cry marginalisation because state governments are dysfunctional,’ says Prof. Osaghae

    Professor of Comparative Politics and Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Eghosa Osaghae, has blamed states government for the many sufferings, marginalisation felt by Nigerians across several regions in the country due to their dysfunctionality.

    Citing the example of the Independent People of the Biafra, IPOB, Osaghae said he always wondered why the ‘marginalisation’ which as perceived by agitators means lack of social welfare service excludes their respective state governments and local governments which claim 52% of our Nigeria’s public expenditure.

    He made the remarks while speaking at the 2017 edition of The Platform, held at Covenant Christian Centre, a nation and governance building program, where he spoke on the topic “Restructuring is federalism, federalism is restructuring”.

    He added, “52% of our public expenditure is by state and local government, but with little or nothing to show for it. State Government need to be more active in the restructuring process. They must do things that will reduce their dysfunctionality…Many of the things we’re asking for restructuring for can be handled by better Governance esp at State level.”

    Osaghae noted that region centred federal trajectory won’t help us as a country, saying we need to have a nation centred trajectory.

    He urged Nigerians to do more in also beaming their searchlight on State governments. Let the accountability begin from there

    “Let the accountability begin from there, State Governors tell us they don’t have money but who is stopping them from innovating ways of raising money?

  • We don’t need your permission on IPOB – Nigerian govt replies US

    The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed that it does not need the permission of any nation before declaring Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), anyone or group a terrorist organisation.

    Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed said Nigeria had never questioned the decisions of any country regarding the running of its internal affairs.

    Mohammed was reacting to the insistence of the US government that IPOB is not a terror squad.

    He told Punch that when many countries of the world declared their own citizens terrorists, Nigeria never interfered, out of respect for their sovereignty and integrity.

    Mohammed stated, “Nigeria is a sovereign country and it does not require the permission of any other country to declare any person or organisation a terrorist just as those countries don’t need the permission of Nigeria to declare any organisation a terrorist one.”

    Recall that the United States, last week, opposed the position of the Nigerian government on IPOB.

    Spokesman for the American Embassy in Nigeria, Russell Brooks, said “Within the context of unity, we encourage all Nigerians to support a de-escalation of tensions and peaceful resolution of grievances.”

    “The Indigenous People of Biafra is not a terrorist organisation under US law.”

  • ‘Tell Buhari-led govt to produce our leader, Nnamdi Kanu,’ IPOB begs UN, UK

    The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Wednesday begged the United Nations (UN), and the United Kingdom to prevail on the Buhari-led government to produce its leader, Nnamdi Kanu whom the group alleged has been missing following military’s invasion of his residence in Abia State.

    IPOB media and publicity secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful said that Kanu, who incidentally holds British citizenship, had not been seen since a detachment of soldiers stormed his residence on 14th September, 2017.

    The statement said: “Ever since the brutal assault that left 28 persons dead inside his compound, including two of his cousins, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, along with his parents , His Royal Majesty Eze Sir Israel Kanu and Ugoeze Sally Nmeme Kanu, has not been seen.

    “The video footage of the assault and the extent of destruction wreaked on his family home are in the public domain. Video clips and photographs of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s bedroom riddled with bullet holes from the guns of the Nigerian soldiers that stormed the palace are evident.

    “The soldiers also took away a lot of valuable materials from the palace. It is the duty of the civilized nations to ask President Muhammadu Buhari, General Buratai and the governors of the South East what they did with our leader because we will not stop until justice is done.

    The world has a moral duty and obligation to put an end to dictatorial regimes such as we are witnessing in Nigeria today.”

    The statement described the ongoing Exercise Python Dance II in the South East as genocide, accusing the governors of the South East of collaborating with the Nigerian government to unleash mayhem against unarmed people.

    The group also accused the Information Minister, Mr. Lai Mohammed of twisting the facts on the matter.

  • Why IPOB is a terrorist group – Defence Minister, Dan-Ali

    • We have no apology for proscribing IPOB – Umahi

    Minister of Defence, Brig-Gen Mansur Mohammed Dan-Ali has explained why the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) was tagged as a terrorist group.

    According to the Defence Minister, one of the characteristics of a terror group was hate speech, which Kanu and his co-agitators had been making against Nigerians and Nigeria.

    The minister, while speaking during a courtesy call on the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations, in New York, the United States of America, Prof Tijjani Bande, insisted that the international community cannot determine the nation’s internal security problem.

    “There are many indices that make a group terrorist. One of them that has been mentioned in the country is that any group that is fond of making hate speeches, making provocative statements, becoming a security challenge to the country, then that group has to be registered as a terrorist group,” Dan-Ali said.

    He further added that the international community needed to look at what was going on in the country and know what IPOB was doing.

    Speaking earlier, Bande thanked Dan-Ali for the visit, and said a lot of important persons come around, but are hardly seen in the Mission.

    He said the fact that the minister created time to visit the Permanent Mission was something extremely important to the Mission.

    Meanwhile, the chairman of the South-East Governors’ forum, Chief David Umahi has said the governors of the zone proscribed the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, to save the lives of over 12 million of Igbos living in the northern Nigeria.

    Umahi, who is the governor of Ebonyi State, made this known while addressing stakeholders of the state during the 2017 Ebonyi peace day celebration that took place at Ishielu local government area headquarters of the state.

    He said: “The issue of proscribing Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, alot of people were sending test messages to me. Some were commending us whereas others were condemning and abusing us and that is leadership for you.

    “Our people must know that the issue of insulting the leaders of the igbos, it is not issue of the sitting President, is not about abusing other tribes.

    “The issue of agitation and marginalization should not degenerate into self help and as governors of the south east, We make all efforts to bring peace. We meet as the 5 governors of the south east and proscribed IPOB.

    “We did that to save the lives of 12 millions of igbos that are living in the northern Nigeria and other parts of this country. We did that and we have no apologies for saving the lives of not only the igbos but the lives of other ethnic groups within the south east zone.

    “We need another state and local government to be like others in the other geopolitical zones. We must use dialogue approach and prayers to get what we need. We cannot allow our place to be a place for kidnappers and armed robbers.

    “Our governors are committed to our youths, we have all agreed that our youths who have been mislead by IPOB ideology to be re-absorbed and reintegrated and keep them busy doing something with their hands.

    “And to this effect, I ask the ministry of youths empowerment to open up a register for some of our youths who are mislead into this agitation and by my words, we are going to rehabilitate them and reintegrate them into meaningful venture in Ebonyi state”, he said.

    The governor further noted that President Buhari had agreed to look into the problems of the South-East.

    “Let me hint on this day of peace that we discussed all issues of agitations and would further the discussions with south-east governors.

    “We would address all issues of concern with him (Buhari) under an atmosphere of peace as he sends his regarsds to Igbo people,” he added.

    Umahi remarked that he was shocked by the president’s humilty as he listended attentively and applied humour which showed he has a good heart.

  • FG publishes IPOB declaration as a terrorist group

    The Federal Government has gazetted the order of the Federal High Court in Abuja which proscribed the Indigenous People of Biafra and declared it a terrorist group.

    Recall that a Federal High Court had proscribed the group and declared it a terrorist organisation.

    “The court had imposed the gazetting as part of the requirement to finalise the proscription of the group.
    Justice Kafarati had ordered the Federal Government to gazette the order and publish it in two national dailies.” Punch reports
    It was learnt that the Federal Government, through the Central Authority Unit of the Federal Ministry of Justice, had commenced moves to notify banks, Nigerian embassies abroad and foreign missions operating in Nigeria from further relating with IPOB.

    A five-page document was reportedly printed and published by the Federal Government Printer in Lagos on September 20, 2017.

    The document was signed by the AGF.

    It is titled, ‘Terrorism (Prevention) (Proscription Order) Notice, 2017’ and contained in Volume 104 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette.

    It warned Nigerians that any person or group of persons participating in the activities of the group “in any manner” would be violating the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 as amended in 2013 and would be liable to be prosecuted.

    It read in part, “NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that by the Order of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/871/2017, dated September 20, 2017 as per the schedule to this Notice, the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra are declared to be terrorism and illegal in any part of Nigeria, especially in the South-East and South-South regions of Nigeria as proscribed, pursuant to Section 2 of the Terrorism (Prevention)Act, 2011 (as mended).

    “Consequently, the general public is hereby warned that any person or group of persons participating in any manner whatsoever in any form of activities involving or concerning the prosecution of the collective intentions or otherwise of the said groups will be violating the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 (as amended) and liable to prosecution.

    “This Notice shall be cited as the Terrorism (Prevention) (Proscription Order) Notice, 2017.”