The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)

  • Nnamdi Kanu not in military custody, says DHQ

    Nnamdi Kanu not in military custody, says DHQ

    The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), yesterday, said the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, was not in its custody.

    According to a statement by its  Director of Information, Major General John Enenche, the DHQ insisted  that its operations in Aba has nothing to do with the alleged raid on the home of separatist group leader.

    “The operations of our men are recorded live, and we can justify that his home was not raided by the military, ” Enenche said.

    Speaking at a news conference in Abuja,  Enenche explained that the people that came out to attack the military were the Biafra Security Service and the Biafra National Guard, saying that it was not right for them to block the roads and be collecting tolls and intimidating law abiding citizens of the state who were going about their lawful businesses.

    On the proscription of IPOB by the Federal Government and South East governors, Enenche noted that the statement he issued two weeks ago did not say “proscription” but a “warning” to parents to warn their children, adding that due process was followed by the government before the group was proscribed as a terrorist organisation by a competent court.

    He said: “It is not the responsibility of DHQ to declare Nnamdi Kanu wanted. Nnamdi Kanu is not in the custody of the military.

    “Nobody raided Kanu’s home. I was watching it live, was monitoring it and speaking with men on the ground.

    ” I later confirmed  that there was nothing to actually justify them legally to mount roadblocks. I saw the militancy, nobody told me and I saw the actions there. We are still investigating.

    “The military did not proscribe IPOB. Due process was followed to proscribe them. The job of the military was to diagnose security issues and warn the public of the consequences and that is part of our media operations.

    “We did our media operations very well, otherwise, that weekend would have been the longest weekend in this country and we are also very careful in choosing our words and we know the law very well.”

    On whether the military was not alarmed about the militarisation of the country coupled with reservations expressed by the United States of America on the on-going operations of the military across the country, General Enenche said the armed forces of Nigeria was not alarmed by what is being analysed by the US, adding that people see and understand situations in  different perspectives.  The military sees and understands things in  different perspectives too.

    “So, it is the military that would tell you the signs and symptoms of a security ailment because it’s only a doctor that can tell you that somebody has cancer or malaria.”

    Enenche reaffirmed the unalloyed loyalty of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.

  • U.S. position on IPOB, unfortunate, unacceptable – FG

    U.S. position on IPOB, unfortunate, unacceptable – FG

    The Federal Government has described as “unfortunate” and “unacceptable,” the position of the US Government over the declaration of the Indigenous People of Biafra ( IPOB )  as a terrorist group.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, gave the government position Wednesday night in London when he featured on BBC Television programme, “Focus on Africa”.

    The Minister, who stressed that the Federal Government was right in declaring IPOB a terrorist organisation, noted that he could not make up with the US seemingly disagreement with the position.

    “It is very unfortunate, if countries decide to pick and choose which organisations are terrorists and which are not, bearing in mind that terrorism has no boundary.

    “I think what we should do is that every country should work together to ensure that terrorism does not thrive,” he said.

    Speaking on why the Government labelled IPOB a terrorist group, the Minister said, “the acts and utterances of IPOB were acts and utterances of terrorists”.

    “For instance, Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB leader was caught on tape, saying that they want Biafra and not peacefully, but by force.

    “He declared that if they do not get Biafra, Somalia will be a Paradise with the kind of mayhem they will unleash on Nigeria.

    “The group openly embraced arms and ammunition and the leader set up Biafra National Guard, Biafra Secret Service and openly attacked army formations”.

    When asked by the anchor of the programme, Peter Okwoche, why “other militarised group” like the Fulani herdsmen had not been classified as terrorist group, Mohammed said that “acts of criminality should not be confused with terrorism acts”.

    He explained further: “When an organisation decides to not just attack the Army but set up its own parallel government;

    “When an organisation openly solicits for arms all over the world; when an organisation starts issuing out its own passports and currency and does not recognise the democratically elected government, then it becomes a different thing”.

    The minister said that Nigeria is so fragile and an attempt to allow such excesses from IPOB to continue could attract reprisal attacks from other parts of the country and set the entire country on fire.

    The President General of the Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief John Nwodo, who was earlier interviewed on the programme, said that the labelling of IPOB as a terrorist group was “extremely unfair and lopsided.”

  • Where is Nnamdi Kanu?

    Where is Nnamdi Kanu?

    According to radical writer, Tariq Ali, a true revolutionary is one who disregards personal safety in the pursuit of one’s beliefs. He cited Che Guavara who left the comforts of Argentina to fight in the jungles of Bolivia and died while in combat.
    He never failed to also mention Malcolm X as one of his heroes who was to meet his waterloo in the heady, violent days of 1965. Unfortunately, there was a disconnection between what he espoused and what he practiced.
    During the brutal dictatorship of General Ayub Khan in his native Pakistan where thousands of citizens died in bloody demonstrations, the students urged him to return home to lead the struggle from within and use his vast global contacts to yank off the military from power. Khan had other ideas and preferred to sit in London, editing a journal because he was scared that his passport might be confiscated.
    He refused to go to Paris in 1968 to attend an important conference because he was scared he might not be allowed back into Britain since he had five months left to become a British citizen. He was tragically a safety first radical apologies to Adewale Maja-Pearce, former editor of the Index on Censorship.
    The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu once boasted that he would deal with any invading force from Abuja and that it would be Biafra or death. When death came in the face of Operation Python Dance, what did he do? He allegedly vanished into thin air as his whereabouts have been unknown since his father’s palace was invaded by the military marauders.
    His disappearing act must have come as a gargantuan shocker to his horde of disciples who called him a Lion and swore that he would stand as the Rock of Gibraltar in protecting their interests.
    What his zealous supporters failed to acknowledge was that their idol failed to stand up for some of his supporters who were detained. He earlier promised not to live them behind in jail but when his bail came through, he made a volte-face. Wasn’t that a sign of more sinister things to come?
    He who fights and runs away lives to fight another day seemed to be his mantra as he was not ready to toe the path that Che Guevara, Martin Luther King Jnr, Patrice Lumumba etc trod.
    His followers were at the mercy of the army goons who whipped them mercilessly to submit to the constituted authority. They needed succour from the man who touted himself as the next big thing in revolutionary warfare but alas all they got was an elitist conspiratorial silence.
    IPOB as part of the fallout has been proscribed as a terrorist organization. The alleged presence of a Biafran intelligence service lent and Kanu’s call for the purchase of weapons made the Federal Government move swiftly to forestall any breakdown of law and order. To categorise them alongside boko haram was in bad taste. It would been interesting to hear Kanu’s voice denounce the actions of the Buhari led administration on his organization.
    Tragically, he has been turned into a fugitive and enemy of the state.
    He now has the charge of terrorism in addition to the earlier treason charge and this wouldn’t be easy to deal with as being let off the hook may be nothing short of wishful thinking.
    One wonders why there has been deafening silence by his supposed foot soldiers and erstwhile sympathizers! No official statement from his bail sureties or any from his horde of disciples. Is it that they failed to successfully buy into his ‘vision?’ Has the tide of the times made it unsafe to publicly associate or identify with him?
    Is it a failure on his part as a leader that he had no loyal crop of loyalists? Some traditional rulers went as far as asking the state government to withdraw the staff of office from his father. The greatest blow came from the southeast governors who denounced him and his organization. Let’s not forget that Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe was among those that stood surety which meant an indirect governmental backing from his homeland.  Was his fame a nine day wonder accentuated by his prolonged detention and as such had no roots and substance?
    Successful liberty fighters have their machineries well oiled either during their time of flight or even death. The likes of Oliver Thambo, Walter Sisulu, Desmond Tutu, Thabo Mbeki etc spread forth the anti-apartheid message while Mandela and the 26 others were behind bars. The 1917 Bolshevik revolution was spearheaded by Lenin from exile in Switzerland. Why hasn’t the so called international support of IPOB seen a propagandist machinery to keep its ideals alive?
    We recall with gusto the way and manner Ralph Uwazurike swept the south-east with his Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB). After his first spell in detention, it fizzled out like the musical candle in the wind.
    Some of Kanu’s traducers accuse him of succumbing to hubris by allowing a guard of honour to be mounted by his foot soldiers which he inspected and infamous picture that circulated virally which saw him step his feet on an overzealous disciple.
    For a man who enjoyed support from the likes of Pat Utomi and Chukwuma Soludo, this is not the best way to end up.
    Some cold comfort is coming from the United States who disagreed with the Nigerian government that IPOB is a terrorist organization. The UK and France have come to deny their countries being used as a funding conduit for the marked organization. Nothing has come in the way of support for Kanu from any of the aforementioned countries and it is crystal clear that he has been left to stew in his own juice.
    Will Kanu go down the way of Uwazurike? Would he like the phonix re-emerge as another Dim Odumegwu-Ojukwu who was still held in high esteem despite his 1970 cowardice?
    Time never fails!
  • IPOB: Kanu sues Chief of Army Staff

    IPOB: Kanu sues Chief of Army Staff

    …Seeks order compelling Buratai to produce him in court

     

     

    Leader of the pro-Biafra group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja for an order of Habeas Corpus ad subjiciendum, commanding the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Tukur Buratai to produce him in court.

    The request is contained in a suit filed in his name yesterday by some lawyers led by Ifeanyi Ejiofor. The suit is marked; FHC/ABJ/CS/908/2017.

    Part of the grounds stated for the request include that Kanu has not been seen since some soldiers allegedly invaded his house on September 14, during which shots were fired and people dead and some wounded.

    The plaintiff stated that Kanu, who was in the house during this bloody onslaught by the Soldiers, has not been heard from or seen after this bloody attack in his home by the agents of the respondent (COAS) since the 14th day of September 2017.

    “The invading soldiers in their desperate bid to ensure that the applicant (Kanu) is caught in the attack climbed stairs to his bedroom upstairs to shot him; walls of his bedroom were riddled with bullets.

    “The invading s,oldiers who had direct contact with the applicant on this fateful day (14th day of September 2017) should be in a position to produce the Applicant before the court. It is either the Respondent’s rampaging Soldiers abducted the Applicant during this raid or must have killed him in the process.

    “Section 40 of the Federal High Court Act empowers this court to order that a writ of habeas corpus ad subjiciendum be issued on the respondent, to produce the applicant in Court, particularly now that his substantive criminal trial is coming up on the 17th day of October, 2017.

    The plaintiff stated, in a supporting affidavit, gave details of what allegedly occurred during the attack on Kanu’s residence and the circumstances leading to his purported disappearance.

    A lawyer, Mandela Umegborogu, said he learnt from Kanu’s younger brother, Emmanueal “that the soldiers who also drove in a purpose-built sophisticated armored personnel carrier, fired live bullets on the relatives of the Applicant, leaving scores brutally wounded, and arrested many.

    “During the bloody attack/invasion of the applicant’s home, scores were killed and others forced to abandon their sleep and run for cover in nearby bushes, which include nursing mothers, pregnant women, children and the aged.

    “On that same day, the 12th day of September, 2017, dozens of supporters of the Applicant who were on a courtesy visit to him, were also barricaded at Isialangwa and tortured on the same day.

    “The applicant was emotionally traumatized and visibly tortured on account of heavy causalities recorded in this unprovoked attack from the invading Soldiers.

    “On the 14th day of September, 2017, the Nigerian soldiers invaded the applicant’s home for the second time, unfortunately on a brutal but murderous raid that left 28 persons dead, and over 48 arrested and taken away to an unknown destination.

    “The applicant was sitting right inside his bedroom when the Soldiers invaded his home. The soldiers in their desperate efforts to ensure that the applicant who is their main target is gunned down, climbed the stairs to his bedroom upstairs to shot him.

    “The wall of the applicant’s bedroom is riddled with bullets holes till date. Attached and marked as Exhibits EK1, EK2, EK3, EK4, EK5 EK6, EK7 and EK8 are photographs showing with sufficient clarity the impacts of this assault on the Applicant’s home.

    “The by virtue of this contact the soldiers had with the Applicant in his room on this 14th day of September 2017, the soldiers must know where the Applicant is, his fate and state of health.

    “The rampaging Soldiers busted into the room of the Applicant in the course of this bloody attack and shoot at everything on sight, including living objects. Attached and variously marked Exhibits EK9, EK10, EK11, EK12, EK13 and EK14, are the photographs and video footage evidencing this dastardly attack on the home of the applicant, including the bullets holes in his bedroom.

    “The Respondent and his agents are fully aware that the   applicant will return to court on the 17th of October 2017 to stand for his trial in the case above mentioned.

    “The applicant has never been invited by any security Agency to response to any criminal allegation before this unprovoked bloody assault in his home.

    “The murderous raid in the home of the Applicant is targeted at eliminating him and not to arrest him.

    “If the intention of the Respondent was to arrest the Applicant, they would have quietly done that without killing unarmed and defenseless civilian populace found in the Applicant’s house.

    “Prior to the bloody onslaught on the Applicant’s house, the Applicant has never been invited by any Security Agency for any investigation. The Applicant was never invited by the Respondent’s office for investigation on allegation of any crime, at any time before the attack in his house.

    “The applicant and the members of IPOB are non-violent and unarmed group, agitating for their right to self-determination. IPOB do not carry arms neither are they into any form of armed struggle, and do not have history of violence.”

  • FG justifies IPOB’s proscription

    FG justifies IPOB’s proscription

    …Ohaneze: It’s extremely unfair

     

     

    The Federal Government Wednesday justified the proscription of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    Minister of Information Alhaji Lai Mohammed said IPOB’s leader Nnamdu Kanu’s utterances and actions led to the group’s proscription.

    But, President-General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nwodo, described IPOB’s proscription as “extremely unfair”.

    They spoke on a BBC World Service Focus on Africa programme.

    Asked why IPOB was categorised as a terrorist organisation, Mohammed said: “The acts and utterances of IPOB were acts and utterances of terrorists.

    “For instance, Nnamdi Kanu was caught on tape saying that he wants Biafra, and not peacefully, but by force, and that if they don’t get Biafra, Somalia would be a paradise with the kind of mayhem…”

    When the anchor said Kanu was “a man who was talking without any weapons whatsoever,” the minister said it was also Kanu who openly sought for arms and set up a parallel security organisation.

    He said: “This is also the same man who openly solicited for arms, the same man who set up his own Biafran National Guard, his own Biafra Secret Service, and the same man who actually attacked army formations.”

    Asked what he made of the fact that the United States does not categorise IPOB as a terrorist group, Mohammed said America’s position was “very unfortunate”.

    “That’s very unfortunate, because if countries decide to pick and choose which organisations are terrorists and which are not, bearing in mind that terrorism has no boundary… I think every country should work together to ensure that terrorism does not thrive,” he said.

    Asked by the anchor why other armed groups in Nigeria were not declared terrorist organisations, yet IPOB that did not “raise so much as a single cutlass against the Nigerian state” was so categorised, Mohammed said acts of criminality were different of acts of terrorism.

    “I think acts of criminality should not be confused with terrorist acts. When an organisation decides to not just attack the army, but sets up its own parallel government, openly solicits for arms all over the world, issuing its own passports and its own currency, does not recognise your government, then it becomes a different thing,” he said.

    Asked if he was he worried about IPOB being driven underground and becoming a militant group, the minister responded: “Nigeria is so fragile that if we allow this kind of thing to go on, and there are reprisal attacks in other parts of the country, the whole country will be endangered.”

    But, Nwodo said the Federal Government’s classification of IPOB as a terrorist organisation was “one-sided”.

    He said the Federal Government has not declared Fulani herdsmen as a terrorist organisation despite it being ranked the fourth deadliest known terrorist group, according to the Global Terrorism Index.

    Nwodo said: “The declaration of IPOB as a terrorist organisation is extremely unfair and one-sided.

    “In Nigeria, we have Fulani herdsmen, otherwise referred to as Fulani militants. They have been ranked the third or fourth deadliest organisation in the world.

    “That kind of organisation, which has ravaged farmlands in Nigeria and killed quite a number of people, has not been classified as a terrorist organisation.”

    The Federal Government, through the Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami (SAN) on September 20 obtained an order from the Federal High Court in Abuja proscribing IPOB and declaring its activities as acts of terrorism.

    The group is challenging the proscription.

  • 14 IPOB members remanded in Prison

    14 IPOB members remanded in Prison

    A Magistrate Court sitting in Aba North Local Government area of Abia State presided over by Ogbonna Adiele on Wednesday remanded 14 members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Aba Federal Prison.

    Recall that Adiele had on the 18th of September remanded 7 accused IPOB members: Chinonso Ude (30years), Maduabuchi Echereodo (25years), Ugochukwu Ikechukwu (32years), Okechukwu Daniel (20years), Ifeanyi Sunday (33years), Okezie Jeremiah (26years) and Chizuruoke Nwauzo (27years) in prison custody following charges on terrorism, kidnapping and use of offensive weapons against them in charge sheets; 132C/2017 and MAN/133C/2017.

    The 14 fresh members of IPOB, Anthony Nnamani(20 years), Chima Chukwumere(22 years), Kingsley Sunday (21 years), Michael Onyedikachi(26 years), Eze Okereke(25 years), Christian Sylvester (45 years), Etim Effiong Ade(22 years), Emmanuel Onwukwe(29 years), Ndubuisi Ukoha(29 years), Ogbonna Nwaji(24 years), Salvation Stephen (22 years), Chizoba Nwosu(21 years), Ejike Elom(21 years) and Kelechi Anusie(26 years) were  arraigned on 8 count charges: Conspiracy, Murder, Arson, unlawful Association, Unlawful Assembly, Stealing with other two charges dealing on burning of the Ariaria Divisional Police Headquarters building and the cars at the premises.

    While the Police Prosecutor, Gabriel Ogbonna urged with the court to commence trial since according to him, the court has the jurisdiction to hear the matter, counsel to the 1st, 2nd and 5th accused persons, Barrister Charles Onuchukwu objected to the prosecutor’s position as he stressed that the court doesn’t have the jurisdiction to hear cases of murder as contained on count 2 of the charge sheet.

    Onuchukwu also argued that the issue of “holding charge” was unconstitutional and unknown to law.

    The trial magistrate after listening to the argument of the prosecutor and counsel to the accused persons ordered that the accused persons were remanded to prison custody and ordered that the case file be transferred to the office of the Attorney General for advice

    The case was adjourned to 4th of October for report of compliance.

  • Group hails Ohanaeze’s visit to Gombe, sues for peace

    Group hails Ohanaeze’s visit to Gombe, sues for peace

    The Igbos for Nigeria Movement ( INM ) on Monday commended the visit of Ohanaeze Ndigbo leaders to Gombe state to promote peace and tolerance.
     
    The group, in a statement in Abuja by its National Leader, Mazi Igwe Ifeanyi, said the period when the organization and Igbo leaders played politics with what is ordinarily a nationwide quest for a better deal was over.
     
    He commended the Nigerian Army for having the will to tackle the agitations of the Indigenous People of Biafra ( IPOB ).
     
    According to him, there is nowhere in the world where terrorist organizations are allowed to flourish unchallenged.
     
    He said: “We commend the Nigerian Army for having the will to tackle IPOB as a festering sore that was on the verge of compromising the health of the nation.
     
    “There is nowhere in the world where terrorists are allowed to flourish unchallenged as earlier canvassed by certain many Igbo and Ohaneze leaders with vested interests.”
     
    He called on some Igbo leaders to apologize to the Nigerian army for criticizing the military operation code-named Operation Python Dance II in the South East.
     
    According to him, some political leaders in the region who banked on using Kanu’s IPOB to score political points had since discovered that they were as much the victims of a terror infrastructure.
     
    “The Igbos for Nigeria Movement [INM] has called on the foremost Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Igbo Leaders to apologize to the military for their earlier acts of silence, indifference, collusion and passive support that allowed the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, to metamorphosed into a full blown terror group, whose leader, Nnamdi Kanu, hijacked the Igbo agitation for fairness to incite hatred across the land.

    “It is reassuring that the same people that were supporting IPOB, even when they were hostages, are today relishing the freedom procured for them through the success recorded by Operation Python Dance II, which has empowered them to again grow the courage to visit the same people that Kanu had vilified without them censuring him. 

    “The least Ohanaeze, Chief Nwodo and other Igbo leaders can do is to retract their past statements on the Operation Python Dance II and to encourage troops to root out other evils that have made Igboland into a place that other Nigerians avoid as a place to settle down.
     
    “The ill-conceived quit notice to Igbos by some northern youths have exposed how groups like IPOB placed Igbos at a disadvantage because Igbos settle in other parts of the country in large numbers while only few persons of other ethnic groups make Igboland their homes because of attitudes like the one exhibited by Kanu.

    “Going forward, the expectation is that Ohanaeze and any one that genuinely calls himself a leader in Igboland must now put the interest of Igbo people above their personal interest and this includes accepting that IPOB was a monster that was set to consume the genuine cause which every Igbo man had vigorously pursued in the past. 

    “Had the military not stopped IPOB and Kanu, the path they were threading was on the verge of making Igbos lose what they had toiled to build in other parts of Nigeria in the past five decades given the way they needlessly antagonized other ethnic groups, including calling for their death,” the statement added.
  • Don’t treat IPOB, MASSOB, others with kid gloves – Islamic leaders

    Don’t treat IPOB, MASSOB, others with kid gloves – Islamic leaders

    Islamic leaders in the country have warned the Federal Government not to treat the current agitations by the Indigenous People of Biafra ( IPOB ) and the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra ( MASSOB ) with levity.

    The Islamic leaders also urged the President Muhammadu Buhari government to tackle other security problems in the country headlong.

    They spoke this at the weekend in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital at this commemoration of this year new Islamic calendar (Hijra).

    Pioneer Grand Khadi, Kwara state Sha’aria Court of Appeal Justice Abdulkadir Orire (rtd) said “the issues of IPOB and MASSOB in the South East must be seriously attended to before they degenerated to undesirable and uncontrollerable levels.

    “Insecurity is the greatest impediment to industrialisation and growth of other investments which have contributed greatly to unemployment of our youths. To ameliorate the situation, there is the need to swiftly confront the Boko Haram insurgents headlong, bring back the remaining Chibok girls and others from captivity. Likewise, the Niger Delta militants and kidnappers should not treated with kid gloves.

    “The military and para-military forces should be fortified and motivated to enhance adequate security of the lives and property of all Nigerians and others resident in Nigeria.”

    The former grand khadi who is also the Sarkin Malamai of Ilorin decried the rampant incidents of ritual killings in many parts of the country.

    Justice Orire added that “the menace of killing, selling and buying of human beings for ritual purposes are very rampant nowadays. This act is highly ungodly, un-Islamic, barbaric and sinful.”

    Corroborating him, current Grand Khadi of the state, Justice Muhammad Abdulkadir frowned at the growing cases of cultism and other anti-social behaviours in Ilorin and its environs.

    Justice Abdulkadir urged Islamic preachers and teachers to preach against “these obnoxious acts to ensure peace and harmony that the Ilorin community is known for.

    Said he: “Our children are involved in series of nefarious activities such as cultism, killing of innocent people and kidnapping among other. Some scholars are engaged in using human beings for ritual purposes all in attempt to get riches by all means. All these are seriously against the teachings of Islam and what Ilorin and its environs are known for.

    “We also call on government to set necessary machinery in motion for the protection of lives through regular surveillance of the community particularly at night to ward off the night marauders, who hide under the cloak of darkness to perpetrate evil acts.”

  • FG uncovers IPOB’s slush account in Paris

    FG uncovers IPOB’s slush account in Paris

    Following intelligence reports, FG has located a slush account in Paris to which some Nigerians have made huge deposits in support of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    It has also uncovered how some IPOB members have invaded Nigerian embassies in Hong Kong and Spain and created some scenes in the last 72 hours.

    The development, security sources said, was an indication of the desperation of IPOB and the justification for the proscription of the organisation.

    But the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Denys Gauer on Friday met with the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

    Although the outcome of the meeting between the two leaders was kept under wraps, Gauer was said to have reassured the Federal Government that France would not support any terrorist group.

    It was learnt that the French government promised to take action as soon as the IPOB’s slush account was known to it.

    A top security source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Intelligence gathering has led to the discovery of an account in Paris into which some Nigerians in the Diaspora remit funds to support IPOB.

    “From the said account, funds were being drawn for the activities of IPOB at home and abroad. The relevant security agencies did a thorough job and provided incontrovertible evidence on the basis of which the government proscribed the terrorist organisation.

    “These Nigerians in the Diaspora are using France as a clearing house.

    “Investigations also confirmed inflows into the account from Holland, Hungary, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Turkey, Singapore and other parts of Europe.

    “In fact, a football tournament was recently organised in Senegal to raise funds for IPOB.

    “As a matter of fact, the account is being used to get money from a lot of people in the Diaspora.

    “What many Nigerians did not know is that the Minister of Information and Culture was talking on the basis of credible intelligence report.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “With cooperation by the international community, especially relevant countries, we will soon get the list of all the people remitting funds into the account in Paris.”

    But the government was also concerned that IPOB members were becoming desperate after the clampdown on the terrorist group.

    The source said: “IPOB members are becoming desperate in the last 72 hours. About two days ago, some members of the terrorist group breezed into our Embassy in Hong Kong under the pretence of renewing their passports but ended up staging a protest.

    “The IPOB members also demonstrated at our embassy in Spain a few days ago.”

    At press time, the details of the session between the French Ambassador and the Minister of Information and Culture were yet to be formally released.

    But a source said: “The Ambassador actually told the minister that France would never condone the activities of any terrorist group, including IPOB.

    “He recalled that France has always been at the receiving end of terrorists and so cannot under any circumstances back IPOB.

    “He restated the determination of the French government to support any policy or initiative which will strengthen Nigeria’s unity.

    “He actually made it known that his government will not back secessionist agitation in this country.”

    On the account in Paris, the Ambassador was said to have told the minister that France was “not aware of the account, but Nigeria should make a formal report.”

    The source said the minister also reiterated that he “never said that France was supporting IPOB, because there is a robust relationship between France and Nigeria.

    “We can never accuse France of collaborating with terrorists, because it has been assisting us in tackling Boko Haram insurgency.

    “France played a major role in setting up and managing the operation of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).”

  • No arrest of IPOB members, Police declare in Anambra

    No arrest of IPOB members, Police declare in Anambra

    …IPOB raises alarm over alleged plot to kill members by FG

     

    The Anambra State Police Command Friday declared that no arrest of members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been made in the state.

    The State Police Public Relation’s Officer (PPRO), Princess Nkeiruka Nwode, told The Nation Friday  in Awka that the command had no problem with IPOB members since after the proscription.

    She said Friday members of the group had been peaceful and going about their normal businesses including the residents in the state.

    Meanwhile, members of the group had been hiding since the proscription in the state, while the sales of IPOB insignia, flags among others are no longer being displayed at public places.

    However, the group yesterday raised the alarm that the federal government was planning another round of massacre against the members.

    This was contained in a statement yesterday in Awka which was sent to reporters by Emma Powerful, Media and Publicity Secretary for IPOB.

    According to the statement, “We the family of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) worldwide under the command and leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu wish to urgently draw the attention of the civilized world to the dastardly plot being perfected by Nigeria against peaceful unarmed members of IPOB residing in Biafra land in the next few weeks”

    “IPOB Intelligence Unit has uncovered elaborate plans by the government to incriminate IPOB members in order to justify their controversial and unpopular proscription of IPOB with the attending laughable tag of terrorist organization against a world recognized peaceful movement”

    “The government has resolved to commence another round of their periodic genocide of innocent civilians across South East and South-South, within the next few weeks under the cover that IPOB is a terrorist organization”

    “They have concluded plans to kill as many people as possible. They want to spread terror, intimidation and instill fear in the minds of those that will survive this massacre and cause our people to renounce or abandon their legitimate quest for freedom”

    “The plan is to bring the people of old Eastern Region to submission before 2019 presidential elections’

    “In the meeting where they concluded this devilish line of action, they boasted that they have succeeded in bringing some South East and South-South politicians, especially South East governors under their control, what was left for them was to complete the conquest and subjugation of entire Biafraland and the youths”

    “It is presently clear that a special squad has been trained to spearhead and carry this plot to the letter. The plan is to trigger an ethno-religious crisis of immense proportion as a prelude to unleashing what they termed the final solution to the Igbo question in Nigeria” IPOB said.

    Meanwhile, one of the Igbo leaders and the Founder of Ogilisi Foundation, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, has called on governors of South East states to take a more holistic approach towards ending the spate of agitation for Biafra.

    He told reporters Friday in Oba, Idemili South council of Anambra that the decision of the governors to proscribe IPOB was hasty and may not lead to the end of activities of Biafra agitators.

    He attributed the perennial call for actualization of Biafra to the yearnings of the souls who died during war for proper burial.

    The spiritual leader, who lauded the unity among the governors, urged them to unanimously decide on how the souls of those who lost their lives during the civil war between 1967-1970 and related struggle would be reburied and appeased.

    Ezeonwuka said only such a befitting burial and memorial would appease the Biafran Spirit, which had taken over minds of most youths across the South East and South South regions.

    He said it was a popular practice among countries in the world to remember the souls that were lost during wars and natural disasters.

    “But the governors have not done enough research in it before their decision to proscribe the IPOB, there is a spiritual aspect of what is going on, the souls that died during the war are still hovering because they have not been recognized and buried”

    “As a spiritual person, I can tell you that those souls that were lost are still alive, they have possessed our youths that is why they are calling for Biafra even at the risk of their lives”