BREAKING! GTI Makes U-Turn, Edits Its Report That Linked IPOB With Terrorism

  BREAKING! GTI Makes U-Turn, Edits Its Report That Linked IPOB With Terrorism

The Global Terrorism Index(GTI) have made a U-turn on their previous ranking of the Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB) as the 10th deadliest terror groups in their 2022 list.

The GTI, a report published annually by the Institute for Economics and Peace(IEP) had claimed that IPOB were responsible for 40 attacks and 57 deaths in 2022. The report further claimed that the listed numbers are an increase from the 26 attacks and 34 deaths the year prior. This was a publication made for reasons we could not grasp.

The report read, “The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), designated as a terrorist group by the Nigerian government in 2017, recorded their deadliest year in 2022. They were responsible for 40 attacks and 57 deaths in 2022, an increase from 26 attacks and 34 deaths the year prior. IPOB is a separatist movement with many factions, many of which are seeking a peaceful succession from Nigeria".

It went further to misguidedly state that IPOB have many factions, which according to IPOB, is a lie. "There is only one registered IPOB worldwide, a movement that have been consistently demanding for a United Nations supervised Referendum to enable the people of the Old Eastern Nigeria(Biafra) decide their fate in the Nigeria" they said.

However, following the report, IEP received a lot of backlash from IPOB Media warriors and legal department, demanding that the IEP must provide a prove to those wrong accusations before an international court.

Following the backlash, we woke up on 27th March 2023 to a fresh and retracting publication from IEP, stating to have "updated the Global Terrorism Index 2023 to reflect this necessary clarification" on no ranking of IPOB as the 10th deadliest terrorist group in the world.

The publication reads, 

"The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is a pro-Biafra secessionist movement based in Southeast Nigeria that aims to establish an independent state of Biafra.

IPOB was proscribed as a terrorist group by the Nigerian government in 2017. In recent years, IPOB has been linked to several attacks, which have been attributed to its paramilitary wing, the Eastern Security Network (IPOB-ESN). The group has not claimed responsibility for any of these attacks.

It is important therefore to differentiate between the peaceful activities of the group and its alleged involvement in violent activity. We have today updated the Global Terrorism Index 2023 to reflect this necessary clarification.

Institute for Economics & Peace

27 March, 2023"

Below is their latest update in full;

"The Indigenous People Of Biafra is a pro-Biafra secessionist movement based in Southeast Nigeria. Its aim is to establish an independent state of Biafra. In 2017,the Nigerian government proscribed the group as a terrorist organisation.

In recent years, IPOB has been linked to several attacks, which have been attributed to its paramilitary wing, the Eastern Security Network(IPOB-ESN). In 2022 IPOB-ESN were suspected of 40 attacks and 57 deaths. This is an increase from the 26 attacks and 34 deaths in previous year. IPOB has not claimed responsibility for any of the attacks.

Despite the proscription of the group, since its emergence in 2012, IPOB has had a focus carrying out peaceful actions towards achieving its aim of sovereign state in Nigeria's Southeast. Today, many IPOB members, supporters and followers continue to work peacefully towards this goal". 

As the time of this report, Family Writers Press International have not received any feedback or response from IPOB regarding the latest report by IEP. However, many IPOB members are seen on the social media expressing some happiness over the current publication of GTI.

Family Writers Press International, Reporting.

IPOB Received Honorary Award In Ireland, An Edge To The Biafra Freedom Struggle

  IPOB Received Honorary Award In Ireland, An Edge To The Biafra Freedom Struggle

                                                                                  

With much pleasure, the Indigenous People Of Biafra(IPOB) ably led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu acknowledged their receipt of the honorary award won by the IPOB Ireland family of the freedom movement in the event of St Patrick's Day parade, held in Cork County on the 17th March 2023.

 

The  award was handed over to supper proud IPOB Ireland on Thursday, March 23rd.

 

Considering the importance of this award to IPOB, especially at this time of the freedom struggle when the fantastically corrupt Nigeria government is hell-bend on blackmailing the movement, IPOB says a very big thank you to the Irish government, to the event organizers and to everyone who contributed in one way or the other to make this success come through. IPOB will forever remain law abiding to the Irish government and to every of her host nations and peoples, worldwide.

This award clearly speaks volumes - IPOB is a self-determination movement recognised by Nations of the world as lovers of freedom, peace, justice and fairness. Nigeria is the only place where peaceful freedom agitators are tagged terrorists while killers are pardoned. 

IPOB further expresses optimism about the future, and the possibilities it hold for more wins and awards of this kind.

"The worldwide IPOB family will continue to be seen in the true light of what the movement represents; good of humanity at large. We will not stop in our strive towards making Biafra an independent Nation, free from the enslavement of Nigeria"- a member said. 

Ifeanyi Chibueze James, reporting

For Family Writers Press International

How The Global Press Describes Nigerian Elections And Elected President

  How The Global Press Describes Nigerian Elections And Elected President 

Tinubu

The Economist said a “chaotically organized vote and messy count” gave Nigeria a new president. 

The Financial Times said in an editorial comment that Nigerian presidential election was “deeply flawed” and the winner “a wealthy political fixer.” 

The Guardian of U.K. described the winner as “an immensely wealthy veteran powerbroker trailed by corruption allegations which he denies.” 

The New York Times described him as “a divisive figure in Nigerian politics.” 

Robert Rotberg, founding director of the Harvard Kennedy School's programme on intrastate conflict, wrote an opinion for Canada's influential Globe and Mail; its headline: “Bola Tinubu's election is another triumph for Nigeria's corrupt old guard.” 

The Times of London was the most disrespectful. It used this very bad phrase: “a wealthy kleptocratic 'godfather' of politics” to describe the person who will replace very clean Buhari on May 29, 2023. As bad as those characterizations are, they are not as damaging as the Financial Times' revelation that it personally “witnessed armed men remove a presidential ballot box in Surulere, Lagos” on Election Day.

The CNN last Friday played back a part of Bola Tinubu's acceptance speech where he described what he got as “a serious mandate.” A CNN anchor then asked if it “was really a mandate” with less than 10 percent of the registered voters behind it. He must be wondering what kind of people are these? The CNN and that anchor were not the only ones bemused by our electoral culture, our elections and their outcomes. 

One of Germany's largest newspapers, Sueddeutsche Zietung, had unflattering words for the winner; it also queried the legitimacy of a mandate that was spurned by 90 per cent of the voting population. 

Aljazeera ran a special report on how the election was disrupted in Lagos last Saturday. The headline is: 'How violence robs Nigerians of their votes.' 

The Washington Post quoted Matthew Page, associate fellow with Chatham House’s Africa Program, as accusing INEC of making both deliberate and unintentional mistakes: “They raised the hopes about the election and its transparency, and then they dashed them. When the opposition says the process was broken, it’s hard to argue with them.” 

Foreign election observers from the US International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) summed up their opinion of the election as falling “well short of Nigerian citizens’ legitimate and reasonable expectations.” 

I have spent the past five days reading informed commentaries and listening to credible voices. I have not seen, read or heard a single positive review of the election in any credible media in any country of the world. I have been around long enough to conclude that Tinubu's 2023 mandate is rivaled in content, texture and review probably only by Shehu Shagari's Verdict '83 mandate.

Other Newspaper Headlines from around the world

Austria:

A drug baron wins the presidential election in Africa’s biggest economy. 

Poland:

Nigeria chooses a known drug lord as LEADER.

Canada:

"Depression, anxiety, uncertainty be-clouds Nigeria’s political space a drug-kingpin wins the election."

This is stinking!

Published By Family Writers Press International 

Nigerian Election: We Have been Vindicated ---IPOB

  Nigerian Election: We Have been Vindicated ---IPOB

23/03/2023

DO ANY BIAFRAN HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE IN ONE NIGERIA AGAIN- IPOB?

The movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under the leadership of Prophet Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu KANU wish to ask all Biafrans if they have any reason again to believe in One Nigeria after the outcome of the 2023 selection called election?

Mazi Nnamdi KANU and IPOB have always maintained that Nigeria is irredeemable, but some people choose to live in delusion. Once again, we have been vindicated.

We in IPOB do not hold anything against one Nigeria advocate. Perhaps they believed that somehow Nigeria could be rescued from the clutches of sophisticated criminal political gangs whose interest is to perpetually impoverish and subjugate the people, especially the Igbos 

It's very clear to the blind that your PVC or voting is useless in Nigeria. The reason why you can't change anything with voting is that Fulani oligarchy considers Nigeria as their grandfather's estate that need to be protected for conquest using some useful idiots from the South. There are vicious elements among the Caliphate whose agenda is to systematically and forcefully Islamize and Fulanize Nigeria at all cost. This agenda is an age longed agenda initiated by Othman Dan Fodio and still being carried on to date. A Yoruba Muslim, Alhaji Asiwaju Tinubu, was rigged in to serve as a psuedo president for the caliphate. Neither Yorubas, who are rejoicing today, nor Igbos nor    Hausas, will be the final beneficiaries of this fraudulent agenda called 2023 election.

The selection of a Muslim Muslim ticket for presidency and fraudulent election used to legitimize the demonic ideology( even when Nigerians rejected them) is an indication that Nigeria is irredeemable and the Fulanization agenda is irreversible. This type of radical fulani Islamic agenda will be more radical than Taliban regimen in Afgalistan. 

Therefore, rejoice not you, Nigeria woman, because you will be completely dehumanized as a woman, and you will have no right whatsoever.

Rejoice, not you, Yorubas, because your case will be worse than that of the Hausa, who were conquered and made slaves in their ancestorial land.

Rejoice, not useless idiotic Igbo politicians, for your case will be like that of Hausa politicians who were used in conquering their own people  and later were eliminated.

Rejoice not Southern traditional and religious leaders for your case will be like that of Hausa traditional and religious leaders who were eliminated and replaced or dethroned and replaced by Fulanis and subjected to Sultanates

Rejoice not  Nigerian  celebraties because your music, videos, dress codes, and your free lifestyle will become  "haram." 

Let it be known to every indigenous Nigerian and Non-Fulanis that your freedom and security are not guaranteed in the coming radical fulanized country whether you're Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Ijaw, Ishekiri and other ethnic groups. The only way to stop this radical fulani Islamic agenda is to complete the Division of Nigeria. Anything short of that is a  disaster in waiting.   

Therefore, we call on every reasonable indigenous person in Nigeria particularly, Ndigbo to do a retrospect and understand that Nigeria is not for us. The unrepentant proponents of "one Nigeria" and the political stooges are endangering our collective future, and we must stand up to free ourselves as a people. 

The attacks, massacres, and the genocide against Ndigbo from 1948 (75 years and counting) till date is an indication that nothing will make Nigeria see Ndigbo as part of their country. Let this recent day-light political robbery against Peter Obi,  attacks, killings, and destruction against Igbos in Lagos be a wake-up call to every Igbo person home and abroad. It's time we use our connections, resources, and abilities to demand the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi KANU and Biafra Referendum. Igbo's lives and properties are endangered in Nigeria, and we can't afford to continue to lose or be slaves in our own land. Enough is enough.

Join the IPOB movement in any part of the world and support the struggle for the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi KANU and for Biafra referendum. You can lend your support in any way necessary. IPOB under Mazi Nnamdi KANU has no faction, and the leadership is under the Directorate of States (DOS) headed by Mazi Chika Edoziem. We do not expect everyone to publicly support the struggle, but by all means, everyone must rally around IPOB and DOS on the march for freedom.  IPOB has inquiry lines to contact the leadership for more information. 

It will be better that heaven falls than for this generation of IPOB to abandon the Biafra struggle. We are resolute and determined to overcome all the challenges, including death, to ensure that we preserve our lives, land, history, and heritage from invaders.

COMRADE EMMA POWERFUL, MEDIA, AND PUBLICITY SECRETARY FOR IPOB

The Narrative of Igbo "Landlocked" and Lies tells too Many Times

  The Narrative of Igbo "Landlocked" and Lies tells too Many Times

It’s often said that a lie told so many times, if unchallenged, may – in the course of time and generations – begin to pass for the truth. One of such is the terrible lie and brazen propaganda, institutionally purveyed (against the Igbo) since the end of the Civil War, to the effect that Igboland is landlocked or has no access to the Atlantic Ocean.

Just recently, this vexatious lie became predominant in the wake of the ethnic-baiting of Igbos in Lagos following the dubious 2023 presidential and governorship elections. Igbos, a merchant race, are being taunted again and told to leave Lagos and its seaports and go back to their ‘landlocked’ homeland. In other words, Igbos are being told that they are trapped in Nigeria as if Nigeria is one hellish jail for the Igbo.

The purpose of this essay, therefore, is to rebut this fat lie with some simple historical, geographical and topographical evidence that are in plain view, if you care to dig into the archives or conduct some basic physical explorations of your own. In the same vein, those that mock the Igbo on this account might as well imbibe the truth and pedal back to reason and reality.

Suffice it to say that it is a profound tragedy that entire generations of the immediate post-Civil War Igbos never bordered to check but seemingly swallowed this brazen institutional falsehood, line, hook and sinker. They never reckoned that it is aimed at frustrating the merchant spirit of the Igbo. A few older Igbos that knew it to be false just didn’t care anymore, having been weighed down by the debacle of the Civil War fought by their generation.

What also unwittingly enabled this lie to persist to this day is that most people don’t take physical Geography (or even adventure) that serious anymore, otherwise they would have easily discovered that Abia, Imo and Anambra States have varying short-distance paths to the Atlantic through Imo, Azumiri, Niger and Urashi Rivers. Igbani island, a diaspora Igbo enclave, corrupted to Bonny by the British, is unarguable.

It’s not really rocket science, as you can easily confirm this if you know how to read Google Earth or you conquer your fear of swamp snakes and walk through these areas on foot. If you try, you will discover that there are many hardly explored waterways and slithering tributaries, including the remote reaches of Oguta Lake and Urashi rivers (at Oseakwa, Anambra State) that meandered through Igbo-delta wetlands to the Southeastern beginnings of the Atlantic waterfront or beachhead.

These rivers have varying lengths of short navigational paths to the Atlantic and in some cases, are far shorter, nautically (and even on footpath) than the Portharcourt, Calabar and Ibaka seaports are to their sides of the Atlantic. Many of these pathways, including particularly the ones from the outer reaches of Imo and Azumiri Rivers terminate at the Atlantic at no more than 15 to 30 Nautical miles to the beachhead. To put it in lay language, one nautical mile equals 1.8 kilometers. So, all you need is some old-fashioned dredging that the colonialists did without a whimper generations ago. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel.

Thus, the contiguity of Southeast (not even the greater Igboland) to the Atlantic is nautically less in distance than the Atlantic is to the dredged seaports in Calabar, Onne, Ibaka, Lagos and Portharcourt. If you discount the territories unfairly excised from Igboland during State creations and the damnable boundary adjustments that followed, it will be far less. During his tenure as Governor of Imo State, Dr Ikedi Ohakim singularly did so much to spotlight this matter in a bid to galvanize the Federal authorities to build a seaport that abuts core Igboland. For avoidance of doubt, seaports are in the Exclusive Legislative List of the Constitution and therefore outside the legislative reach of the States.

To be sure, Ikwerre land or Igweocha which bears the greater portions of the Portharcourt seaport was dredged up to 50 miles to the Atlantic front through the Bonny River. Onne seaport was dredged up to 60 miles to the Atlantic and Calabar seaport was partially dredged some 45 nautical miles to the Atlantic. Ibaka seaport is about 30 nautical miles to the Atlantic and the Lagos seaports dredged up to about 50 nautical miles to the Atlantic. This is not to say that some dredging was not easier or harder than the other.

Compare all these to Obuaku in Abia State, which is only 25 nautical miles to the Atlantic from the confluence of Imo and Azumiri Rivers, of which Azumiri, on its separate merits, lies not more than 30 nautical miles to the Atlantic beachfront. The less obvious one is the little-known Oseakwa (Urashi) in Ihiala, Anambra State which is mere 18 nautical miles to the Atlantic, all with its 65 feet of natural depth, arguably incomparable to no other River in Nigeria.

Additionally, what is geopolitically known as Igboland today is far smaller than what it was and constitutionally supposed to be. As far back as 1856, William Balfour Baikie – one of the earliest and credible Geographers of ancient Nigeria, had this to say: “Igbo homeland, extends east and west, from the Old Kalabar river to the banks of the Kwora, Niger River, and possesses also some territory at Aboh, an Igbo clan, to the west-ward of the latter stream. On the north it borders on Igara, Igala and A’kpoto, and it is separated from the sea only by petty tribes, all of which trace their origin to this great race”. If you’re in doubt, google it.

But with that infamous post-War abandoned property policy and the egregious institutional injustices in the subsequent boundary adjustments, coupled with the widespread anti-Igbo gerrymandering, Igbos physically (and even psychologically) lost geopolitical hold of the delta lands that had vested in their ancestors for generations. It was such natural contiguity of Igboland to the Atlantic that enabled Igbo ancestors to behold the Atlantic Ocean and, in wonderment, they named it Oshimiri – The Great Sea or the Infinite Sea.

The post-Civil War psychological beat-down and gang-up against the Igbo got so bad and institutionalized to the extent that some of the descendants of these Igbo ancestors (nearest to the Atlantic and now geopolitically lying outside Southeast) are no longer sure whether they are Igbo or not. This is how the notion of Igboland being landlocked quickly gained traction and became a weapon used to mock Ndigbo and down their merchant spirit.

The most brazen injustice was in 1976 when the Justice Nasir Boundary Adjustment Commission made a deliberate business of carving out some core Igboland territories into some neighboring States of the South-South. But they didn’t quite make an absolute success of it. They (luckily for the Igbo) missed the southernmost Southeast lands that possess rivers and tributaries that meandered through slices of Igboid or Igbo-speaking South-South territories and terminated at the Atlantic.

For avoidance of doubt, there’s particularly the Obuaku confluence in Ukwa West (Abia State) that flows through greater Ikot Abasi in Akwa Ibom State (which has slices of Igbo communities) before expanding out and washing into the near-reaches of the Atlantic. You can also reckon with the River Niger which remotely washed into the Atlantic through a vast network of hardly explored delta creeks and mangrove swamps that abut the Bight of Biafra, now officially corrupted to Bight of Bonny (that is: Igbani), after the Civil War. To be sure, Igbani or Bonny is Igbo, whether you deny it or not.

On a side note and in conclusion, it is pertinent to make it crystal clear that the persistent taunts, mockery and ‘ntoor’ that Ndigbo are hopelessly trapped in Nigeria because their native land is landlocked (Buhari called it a ‘dot’), coupled with the misguided refusal to build a seaport into core Igboland are some of the major factors that have justifiably agitated the average Igbo to the point of seeking an alternative to Nigeria.

Ejimakor, a Lawyer writes from Alaigbo

UK Government asks Nigerians to accept and be Proud Of The Presidential Election Despite Criticism

 UK Government asks Nigerians to accept and be Proud Of The Presidential Election Despite Criticism

The United Kingdom government has urged Nigerians to be proud of the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections despite the various reported setbacks, particularly from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). 

The outgoing British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, on Tuesday stated this, while fielding questions from newsmen after she paid a farewell visit to the Senate president, Ahmad Lawan, at the National Assembly, Abuja.

The British envoy described Nigeria’s democracy as “fascinating” despite the contentions on the 2023 electoral process by some political actors.

Asked about her impression of Nigeria and democracy, Liang said: “Nigeria’s politics is just so fascinating. I was here for the last election and I will finish with this election. I am indeed impressed with Nigeria’s democratic journey.

“Yes, there have been some setbacks but overall, I see this as positive and Nigerians should be proud. Nigeria’s politics is fascinating just to watch it. What I really want to get across is that Nigeria is the biggest democracy in Africa. The world watches your progress to democracy.

“Although there were some disappointments in this election, I think overall Nigerians should be proud.” 

At the House of Representatives, the British envoy told the speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, that the Electoral Act 2022 was a giant stride achieved by the parliament.

Earlier in his remark, Senate President Ahmad Lawan advised the incoming 10th National Assembly to maintain a bi-partisan approach that prioritises the national interest amid its deliberations.

Speaker Gbajabiamila said both the house and the outgoing British High Commissioner enjoyed a robust relationship, adding that, “We will miss you. Nigeria will miss you; the parliament will miss you and your various engagements.” 

Source

IPOB Charges Igbos to defend themselves and their businesses in Lagos against ethnic attack

  IPOB Charges Igbos to defend themselves and their businesses in Lagos against ethnic attack

By Steve Oko

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has urged Ndigbo residents in Lagos, to rise and defend themselves against ethnic agenda.

This is coming on the heels of attacks on the Igbo and their business interests in the wake of the presidential and national assembly elections where they mobilized support for the candidates of the Labour Party.

IPOB called on Ndigbo to be vigilant wherever they live.

“IPOB is urging Ndigbo and Biafrans in general resident in the Western region Nigeria, particularly in Lagos, to be very vigilant and be prepared and ready to defend themselves and their businesses against thugs and criminals if the Nigerian security apparatus is incapable of or unwilling to protect them.

“That same evil bird that sang in the 60s is singing again. Cabals rigged 2023 election to set Ndigbo up against the Yorubas. But we are so much wiser now, and we hope that Yoruba people will not fall into the script of the caliphate.

“The political thugs and criminals hired to terrorise and burn down properties belonging to Ndigbo should know that they have no monopoly of violence, hence, must be prepared to receive at least as much as they give. “

IPOB also dismissed as ridiculous, claims in some quarters that the pro-Biafra movement had deployed special squads to cause mayhem in Lagos ahead of the March 18 governorship and house of assembly elections.

According to IPOB, those behind such unfounded rumours are only seeking cheap popularity but should be ignored.

IPOB in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said it had no interest in Nigeria elections, and would not in any way associate with it let alone deploying its men to entangle in it.

The statement made available to Vanguard read in part:”The attention of IPOB has been drawn to the public statement from some persons calling themselves Delta Igbos alleging that IPOB has deployed IPOB Special Squad in Lagos to cause mayhem.

“We would have ignored this fake information from these traitors, but it’s obvious that they are working with the enemies who are recently promoting Igbophobia in Lagos.

“For the avoidance of doubt, IPOBs are not, and can never be party to Nigeria politics. IPOB members are not interested in Nigeria politics and can’t be used as political thugs.

“IPOB will never attack any region, person, or tribe for any reason unless threatened.

“IPOB has never had any record of violence in all our rallies across the world. The scenario that these useless idiots painted in their statement alleging that IPOB Special Squad will burn down Igbo markets for sympathy is like a house owner burning down his house for public sympathy; How pathetic!

“These fools should remember that when Igbos are being killed, they will not be spared or have opportunity to tell the anti-igbo mob that they are Delta Igbos, Balyesa Igbos, Ikwere Igbos, River Niger Igbos or other useless confused names that they may call themselves.

“Therefore, those raising these false alarms should be held responsible for the arson and destruction of Igbo properties. They are the pitiable agents of the tribal bigots in Lagos who are promoting ethnic hatred against Igbos.”

The pro-Biafra movement, claimed that some persons in the South West, had been compromised by some unpatriotic Northern elements to incite violence against Ndigbo living in Lagos or their business interests.

“Nevertheless, we have acknowledged that cabals have bought over some personalities in Yoruba land to promote ethnic hatred and cause mayhem against Ndigbo.

“We know that the majority of true Sons of Oduduwa are not, and will not support the crimes being committed against Igbos resident in Lagos State and other parts of Yorubaland for that matter.

“We also know that these true Sons of Oduduwa are not in support of the agenda of the Fulani to cause disaffection between the Yoruba and the Igbo and we must not allow them to succeed.”

IPOB cautioned those being recruited to cause disaffection between Ndigbo and Yoruba to desist from such hatchet jobs.

“We wish to let those being used to cause trouble between the Igbo Nation and Yoruba Nation to retrace their step and join forces with well meaning Yoruba people and the Igbo people to extricate our people from the quagmire called Nigeria.

“These trouble makers being used to achieve a set objective must understand that Ndigbo will not cower and run away for them but will rather defend themselves against criminals and political thugs anywhere until Biafrans are allowed to exit the contraption called Nigeria.

” If you don’t want Igbos to exercise their rights freely as Nigerians, then allow us to have our Independent State of Biafra.”

The statement said that IPOB would not be lured into any friction with any ethnic group but would remain focused on its agitation for Biafra restoration.

“IPOB will not fall for their bait to engage in any fight with our Yoruba friends and neighbours. The Fulani are not smarter than any other Nation in Nigeria so the Igbo Nation and the Yoruba Nation must not allow them to pitch us against each other.

“Our leader Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu opened a door of cooperation with the Yoruba Nation and the IPOB leadership will maintain that cooperation pending when our leader rejoins us to continue our unstoppable match to freedom.

“It is obvious that tribal politicians in Lagos and Abuja are sponsoring these criminals and political thugs to attack and burn down Igbo people’s business and properties as a means to intimidate them all over Nigeria and perchance instigate a fight between the Igbo and their hosts.

“Those who think that they can use intimidation to terrorise Ndigbo into submission should go back to history because Ndigbo is not the type to be intimidated.

“Those who are hoping to replicate the 1960 scenario should advise themselves properly because never again shall we allow our people to be butchered and massacred for the sake of and for the benefit of the British and their Fulani collaborators because a great shock awaits them.”

IPOB, therefore, urged Lagos State Governor, Yoruba Traditional rulers, their opinion moulders, politicians, Afenifere leaders particularly Gani Adams “to do all that is necessary to stop these criminals and their sponsors in their track to avoid igniting a fire that will pitch us against each other while the Caliphate is standing on the sideline laughing at us.”

” These thugs must be compelled to desist from further attacking and bullying Ndigbo that are doing their legitimate business in Lagos.

“Lagos Government should know that 2023 is not 1993 and Igbos will defend themselves against these criminals with whatever means is available to them.

“We are making this request in good faith so that tomorrow none should wake up to tell the story from the middle that Ndigbo are fighting their host community.

“The leaders and elders in Yoruba land should call the criminals terrorising Igbos and their sponsors to order before things degenerate into dangerous and unimaginable dimensions.

“Igbo leaders and Traditional Rulers should equally speak out to their Yoruba counterparts. Nobody should blame Ndigbo and the youths for defending themselves against the ethnic cleansing and impoverishment agenda.

“This is the time to warn these ethnic political bigots and their thugs to stop destroying Igbo-owned businesses and markets in Lagos State.

“Destroying Igbo’s properties in Lagos because of fraud and obsession for re-election that has nothing to do with Ndigbo is barbaric and unacceptable. “

The statement noted that “Igbos are peaceful business people who have contributed to Lagos development more than any other ethnic group in Nigeria.”

” Why so much hate and envy against Ndigbo? God Almighty Chukwu Okike Abiama has destined us to be what we are, and no amount of hatred and envy can change God’s blessing for His people.

“Those who don’t like Igbos or are envious of them should tell the Nigeria government to allow a Biafra Referendum so that we can exit Nigeria for good and in peace.”

“IPOB tabled a demand for Biafra exit through a referendum to Nigerians and the Nigeria government. The earlier that demand is met, the better for all of us to avoid continuous Igbophobia in Nigeria. “

Source