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Tag: Indigenous Peoples of Biafra

  • IPOD sit-at-home order: Aba residents count losses

    To commemorate the death of soldiers who died fighting for Biafra during the Nigeria Civil War, the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOD), a group that agitates self-determination ordered a sit-at-home action on May 30 in order to remember Biafra’s fallen heroes. SUNNY NWANKWO reports that residents of Aba have been brooding over economic losses incurred while observing the order.

    Apart from Lagos State, Abia is one of the states in the country where many analysts believe can run its economy through the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) it raked from markets and other commercial and economic transactions without necessarily depending on the monthly allocations from the Federal Government for the running of the state.

    Recall that since the inception of the Okezie Ikpeazu-led administration, there has been massive campaign on Aba-made leather and garment wears. The government has equally gone ahead to woo international investors to and invest in the state, a step that even spurred the Federal Government to endorse the proposed Enyimba Economic City to be sited in three local government areas of Ugwunagbo, Ukwa East and Ukwa West.

    However, while these and other efforts were being made by both the federal and state governments, the economy of the commercial town was, on May 30, shutdown following the sit-at-home order by the IPOB. The day was used to observe and remember those who died during the Nigeria Civil War.

    Heads of various security agencies, including Abia State Commissioner of Police, Eneh Okon had promised watertight security in Aba and other major towns. They urged people to go about their legitimate businesses as security agencies would treat anyone threatening the existing peace as terrorists. Despite this assurance, residents, including operators of various educational and commercial institutions stayed away from their business premises. Government workers also didn’t go to work that day.

    The usual hustling and bustling that Aba is known for suddenly disappeared on May 30. The usual gridlock on major roads, including Aba-Owerri Expressway, Aba-Ikot Ekpene Expressway, Okigwe, Faulks and Azikiwe, among other roads that host various articulated vehicles were devoid of deafening honking from cars.

    For the security agents, they did all they could to ensure that the state was peaceful and lives and properties were not destroyed. They were happy that they were able to put IPOB and their adherents in check.

    But far from the thinking of the police and other security agencies, the agitators were happy that despite the efforts of the security agencies to prevent the day’s event, it eventually held.

    Our reporter, who monitored the compliance of Abians to the IPOB sit-at-home order in Aba and Umuahia, the state capital observed that while residents of Umuahia observed the orders of the IPOB partially, there was total compliance to the order in Aba.

    While gates of major entrances to Ariaria International Market, Aba was open for traders and their prospective customers, shop owners and their customers ignored the assurances by security agencies in Abia State. They stayed away from the market.

    Further checks, however, show that gates of other markets, including Cemetery, Ahia Ohuru, Shopping Centre, among others were locked.

    Operatives of various security agencies were spotted at strategic locations, including Azikiwe Road by Asa, Bata Junction, Umuele by Faulks Road in the two cities to forestall any breach of peace by any person or group of people who may wish to cash in on the situation to cause breakdown of law and order.

    Some eateries, financial institutions, including public and private along Aba-Owerri Road, Ikot Ekpene Expressway, Okigwe Road, among others were carrying out skeletal services, while the roads known for their bustling and hustling were devoid of human and vehicular traffic.

    A student of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba who identified himself as Godwin told our reporter that the institution had to shift their examinations which they were supposed to begin penultimate Thursday to a future date.

    Speaking on the sit-at-home order and compliance by Abians, a member of IPOB who identified himself as Bright said: “The compliance to the sit-at-home by residents of Aba was a clear indication that the people of the commercial city were behind the struggle towards the emancipation of the people of the Old Eastern Region.

    “By June 12, there is going to be a public holiday for one man and nothing is being done to remember and immortalise over one million lives that died while struggling for their emancipation.

    “Look at Rwanda today; they have come to a roundtable to discuss. They have put their past behind and have resolved to move ahead. Why does the Federal Government refuse the call for referendum where we will discuss issues bordering on unity and oneness of Nigeria and how to move forward as a people?

    “We must agree to stay together or go our separate ways. No man should stay in his house to detect for us what we should do. What are they afraid of and why are they afraid of it? It simply means that they have something that they don’t want people to know about. Why did they stop teaching of history in schools? It is a means that they used to stop the younger ones from knowing their history.

    “The realisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra is a struggle that only God can stop. No amount of propaganda by the Federal Government or its agents would dissuade our struggle for the emancipation of our people.”

    A security agent who spoke to our reporter said they were all out to ensure that there was peace and that no one capitalises on the sit-at-home directive to make the state uncomfortable and unconducive to residents and visitors.

    However, beyond the statement from the leadership of IPOB and security agents, analysts have expressed worries over the economic loss the state recorded as a result of the sit-at-home action.

    According to Sam Offor, an economist, the economic loss suffered by government and private organisation is unquantifiable, stressing that the worst hit is the Small and Medium Scale industry.

    Some of the traders equally lamented the huge loss they suffered as a result of their compliance to the sit-at-home directive.

    Speaking to our reporter, Josiah Umekwe, a businessman, who said he makes an average of N500, 000 daily said the economic loss suffered by the state government and private individuals amounts to millions of naira.

    He said: “I would have gone to open my shop that morning but for the fear of the unknown. When I later sent my boys to attend to a customer who came from Cameroun without the knowledge of the sit-at-home order, they came back with about N300, 000.

    “By and large, the IPOB sit-at-home was a big loss to the Aba business community.”

    For a member of staff of a commercial bank in Aba that spoke in confidence for security reasons, the sit-at-home order is something that government at federal and state levels should do everything to stop because it does more harm than good to their businesses.

    “Umuahia, the state capital, is more of civil servant-dominated area. But Aba is the economic base of the state. Our economic loss on that particular action of the IPOB cannot be recovered.

    “Even though we asked some customers to go to Umuahia where there was full scale operation, yet, our branch in Umuahia couldn’t make one-quarter of what we made. So, the economic loss is huge.”

  • Ohanaeze berates IPOB over conditions for peace

    The apex Igbo cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has described as spurious, mendacious and the height of blackmail for the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), to outline what it called the preconditions for peace between it and Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

    In a press release, the Special Adviser to the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo on Media and Publicity, Chief Emeka Attamah, regretted that after all Ohanaeze was doing to advance the interest of Ndigbo, IPOB was still recalcitrant and refused to allow peace which is a sine qua non for progress and the achievement of self-determination for Ndigbo.

    The release said that the press hype IPOB was engaging in as preconditions for reaching a peaceful coexistence with Ohanaeze Ndigbo was most unfortunate, especially after the efforts done by the President General to challenge the Federal Government on all wrongs done to IPOB.

    Attamah recalled that at his inauguration on the 11th of January 2017, Chief Nwodo had, in defiance of the obvious hatred and animosity of the federal government towards IPOB, stated that both IPOB and MASSOB were his children and that he would not abandon them because their cause was his cause.

    The President General was explicit then that there are two approaches to any struggle: violence or dialogue and that he preferred dialogue.

    The release further said that at all the peace meetings Ohanaeze had held with IPOB, Chief Nwodo had always explained that the apex body had nothing to do with the proscription of IPOB by the federal government.

    “On the contrary, Chief Nwodo had confronted the GOC of 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu to carry out investigation and trial of soldiers who went outside the rules of engagement in the killing of members of IPOB during the Operation Python Dance.”

    The release said that when IPOB was proscribed, Ohanaeze again challenged the Attorney General of the federation to show cause why IPOB, a harmless and an unarmed pressure group, could be proscribed while Miyetti Allah, the umbrella body of the killer Fulani herdsmen was being romanced by the same federal government.

    Read Also: IPOB: Court grants Kanu’s co-defendants bail

    Attamah stated that Ohanaeze Ndigbo had restrained itself from engaging in a press war with IPOB because as Chief Nwodo always says,  a father should not quarrel with his children in the public, but that the truth is palpably in the public domain.

    He said that this is why all the vituperation being poured on Chief Nwodo by IPOB both on the pages of newspapers and through text messages to his phones had not elicited any challenge from Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

    The release advised IPOB to see the two demands by IPOB for a referendum or State of Biafra and that of restructuring by Ohanaeze as efforts towards achieving the same objective of self-determination, but that under the present situation, restructuring was preferable as it precludes bloodshed.

    Attamah regretted that now that Chief Nwodo has been able to galvanize Ndigbo and, indeed, the South-South, South-West, Middle-Belt and some parts of the North to embrace restructuring to ensure equity and fairness for all the federating units in the country, IPOB is rather distracting Ohanaeze from giving Ndigbo a better place of pride.

    Ohanaeze, therefore, enjoined all well-meaning Igbo sons and daughters to call on IPOB to embrace peace and form a synergy with Ohanaeze to enable Ndigbo achieve a better political and economic space for themselves in the country.

  • IPOB, devolution of powers, others top Senate discussion

    IPOB, devolution of powers, others top Senate discussion

    The Nigerian Senate and the House of Representatives resumed on Monday after over two months recess. The national lawmakers are resuming at a time the that country has pressing national issues to address.

    Divergent views have been expressed on various issues by stakeholders including the lawmakers.

    The lawmakers were scheduled to resume on September 19 but the massive repair work going on at the Assembly complex forced the management to extend the resumption date by one week. Members of the two chambers of the National Assembly proceeded on annual vacation on July 27.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, is expected to deliver an address to welcome his colleagues back to chamber for legislative business.

    Saraki’s address, no doubt, will touch on some burning issues and ex-ray how far the Senate has complied with its legislative agenda.

    The caucuses of various zones are also expected to meet to articulate issues dear to them.

    Some of the burning issues that are likely to dominate discussions in the upper chamber include the agitation for devolution of powers to states also tagged restructuring.

    The activities of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) the proscription of the group and its classification as a terrorist organization by the Federal Government are expected to be discussed by the lawmakers.

    Senate President has already set the tone of discussion of IPOB when he described that proscription and the classification of IPOB as a terrorist organization as a terrorist organization as unconstitutional.

    Some of the lawmakers seem uncomfortable with the position of Saraki and are ready to state their positions.

    However, those close to Saraki said that the position the Senate President took on the proscription and classification of IPOB as a terrorist organization remained his personal opinion which informed why he personally signed the statement conveying his position.

    Following the fire and fury that attended National Assembly rejection of the proposal for devolution of powers to states, Saraki promised that the issue would be re-visited.

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, also said that an avenue could be created to reconsider the power devolution clause.

    That majority of Nigerians are anxiously waiting to see the controversial clause would be re-visited is not in doubt. What is in doubt, however, is how the proponents of devolution of powers will win over senators and House of Representative members who are bent to ensure that the power devolution clause did not see the light of the day.

    The 2018 budget is another issue that expected to dominate discussion in the two chambers of the National Assembly.

    The Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) that will outline the revenue outlay and financial projections for the 2018 Fiscal year is expected to be submitted to the National Assembly immediately the lawmakers resume.

    The consideration of the MTEF and FSP has in the past formed a source of friction and disagreement between the Presidency and the Legislature.

    The performance of the 2017 budget will also be x-rayed by the two chambers.

    Some outstanding issue including the approval of virement to complete important projects as requested by the Presidency, will also be considered and approved by the lawmakers especially when some road projects are said to have been abandoned by contractors due to lack of funds.

    Before commencement of recess in July, Saraki hinted of the need to reshuffle standing committees to make them effective and functional. It is expected that rearrangement of the committees will be one of the issues lined up by the Senate President.

    The resumption of suspended former Senate Leader, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, is another issue before the Senate.

    Ndume was suspended for six months for raising issues concerning alleged certificate forgery against Senator Dino Melaye and purchase of exotic car by Saraki without investigation.

    The Borno South lawmaker has served out his suspension and appears to be ready to resume his legislative duties.

    Ndume is, however challenging his suspension in court.

  • Anambra Police to enforce ban on IPOB activities

    Anambra Police to enforce ban on IPOB activities

    The Anambra Police Command says it has taken steps to enforce the ban on all activities of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) in the state.

    The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Garba Umar, saiid this while addressing newsmen in Awka on Tuesday.

    Umar warned that any person or persons involved in the activities of the proscribed group would be arrested and charged to court.

    He defined terrorism as the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate, coerce a government, the civilian population or any segment in order to seriously destabilize or destroy the fundamental political, constitutional, economic or social structure of a country.

    “The Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2013 (As Amended) provides minimum punishment of 20 years and maximum of death sentence depending on the offence.

    “Meanwhile, Section 37 Sub-section (1) Criminal Code Act, Cap 77 provides that any person who wages war against the state in order to intimidate or coerce the President or State Governor is guilty of treason and is liable to on conviction to be sentenced to Death.

    “Therefore, I enjoin the general public to know that participating in the activities of this group is illegal and would amount to treasonable felony,” the police boss said.

    He warned the general public to desist from aiding and abetting members of the group, urging them to provide useful information to the Police to help arrest fleeing members of the outlawed group.

    “The Command also wishes to reiterate that any act of terrorism is criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of the motivation; the Command urges the good people of Anambra to come together to sustain the existing peace in the state.”

    The commissioner assured that the police would continue to safeguard lives and properties of all citizens in the state in line with the vision of Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris.

    He appealed to parents and guardians to warn their children and wards to steer away from the group.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Nigerian Army has declared IPOB as a terrorist organisation in a statement issued by the Director of Defence Information, Mr John Enenche.

  • IPOB: Army not under Political Pressure – Buratai

    IPOB: Army not under Political Pressure – Buratai

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Tukur Buratai Monday said the army was not under any form of political pressure on the position it took regarding the activities of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, (IPOB).

    The Arm Chief, however, maintained that only the Federal Government would take a decision on the proscription of IPOB.

    General Buratai asserted that military had the duty and constitutional responsibility to protect lives and properties in the face of internal and external threats to the territorial integrity of the country, stressing that its actions against IPOB were necessitated by the provisions of the constitution.

    He made the remarks on Monday while fielding questions from newsmen shortly after addressing Principal Staff Officers, Corps, Formations and Operations Commanders, Commandants of Nigerian Army and Corps Schools at the 2nd and 3rd Quarters Conference 2017 of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) at the Army Headquarters’ Officers Mess, Abuja.

    He said: “Training is a continuous exercise apart from the obvious exercises that you see but there are lot of other exercises that…from different force of the Nigerian Army and even from skills. So it is not a new thing, we have been training, we have been exercising on a regular basis.
    “But once in a while we come and carry out a large scale exercise to harmonize all the aspects of training that have been thought in training institutions and unit formations.

    “Since we came on board in 2015, we have been having series of exercises and we did same set of exercise in 2016 and we are repeating the same thing this year and you are aware of Habin Kunama II, the on-going Egwu Eke II in the South and very soon at the end of Operation Python Dance we move into Crocodile Smile II which will take a lot

    “This is just to reassure Nigerians, law abiding citizens that the Nigerian Army and indeed other security agencies are really concerned with the safety and security of their lives and property. You are very much aware of the security challenges in the country”.

    On the proscription of IPOB he said: “You see, you said political pressure. You should understand the context by which the Nigerian Army is operating. Nigerian Army is part of the political consideration in the democratic system.

    “It is part of the democratic process, is a product of the democratic governance, you know the military. We are not receiving any pressure; we are given what the constitution has provided for us. Constitutionally what our responsibilities are for us, so we are not under any pressure whatsoever.

    “Whatever anyone is saying, we will refer him back to the constitution. There are several provisions that give us those responsibilities and also to carry out such task as duly assigned by the government or by the constituted authority.

    “Be rest assured that we don’t have any other role that is outside the constitution.

    “As regards the proscription, this is what I want to give; the federal government will take a final decision on that. There are guidelines as provided in the Act on the Terrorism Act and am sure the relevant government agencies am talking about will take appropriate steps whether to arrest or whether to do any other actions and we will receive the appropriate directives from the authorities,” General Buratai asserted

  • IPOB: Wike condemns attacks on non Rivers indigenes

    IPOB: Wike condemns attacks on non Rivers indigenes

    Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Friday said his administration would not tolerate any attack on non-indigenes in the state.

    Wike gave the warning in Port Harcourt in a state-wide broadcast to the people of the state.

    ‘’The state government will not tolerate any attack on other Nigerians living in the state by members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) or any other group,’’ he said.

    The governor said that the state belonged to all residents and those doing legal businesses in it.

    ‘’The state heartily welcomes any Nigerian who resides in the state and carries out his or her lawful businesses,’’ the governor said.

    He said that the deliberate sabotage of the state’s security architecture by men of the Rivers Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) was condemnable.

    Wike said that the state government was deeply concerned with the recent activities of IPOB in Rivers.

    The governor said that his administration was particularly worried by the attack on some Nigerian citizens living in the state.

    “Rivers people fully subscribe to Nigeria’s corporate existence and its indivisibility, as a people we shall continue to support the unity and peaceful co-existence of all ethnic nationalities,’’ he said.

    He said that the people of the state would continue to work towards actualizing the collective aspirations for a just, inclusive and progressive Nigeria.

    “We shall not tolerate any attack by any group on other Nigerians living in Oyigbo or any other part of the state,” Wike said.

    He warned troublemakers, who were bent on causing violence in the state, to steer clear of Rivers’ territory.

    ‘’ Nobody should take our hospitality and peaceful disposition for weakness as we are capable of dealing decisively with any situation that threatens peace and serenity in the state,” he said.

    The governor urged Rivers’ people to be vigilant and desist from being used by anybody to foment trouble in Rivers.

    ‘’Do not hesitate to report any suspicious character or movements around your vicinity to the law enforcement agencies for immediate action,’’ he said.

    Wike said that dialogue and not violence remained the best way to resolve contending political issues in the country.

    He called on the Federal Government to initiate meaningful national dialogue to peacefully resolve the structural challenges threatening Nigeria’s stability and progress.

    “In the same vein, we urge the security agencies to exercise maximum restraint and conform to international rules of engagement and best practice, while responding to provocative acts from ill-advised groups.”

    The governor said that his administration had been receiving reports from traumatized victims who had been robbed of their valuables by SARS Operatives under the guise of conducting searches.

    “They employ several malevolent methods including planting illicit drugs on their unsuspecting victims as bargaining chip or forcefully taking them to ATM boots to collect specified amount of money as ransom for their freedom,’’ he said.

    He aid that some rescued victims had reportedly pointed SARS operatives as the ones that were responsible for most of the kidnappings along East-West road in the state.

    Wike reassured the people of the state of the commitment of his administration to work with the security agencies to ensure the safety and security of lives and property across the state.

  • South East governors forbid IPOB

    South East governors forbid IPOB

    The South East Governors’ Forum has announced the proscription of activities of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).

    Arising from its emergency meeting on Friday in Enugu, Chairman of the forum, Gov. Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state requested the group and other of such groups to articulate their grievances and send to the forum.

    Umahi appealed to all governors in the zone to ensure compliance with the directive in their various states and for the Federal Government to withdraw the troops in the zone.

    Umahi said: “All activities of IPOB are, hereby, proscribed. IPOB and all other aggrieved groups are advised to articulate their position on all national issues.

    “Such should be submitted to the committee of governors, Ohaneze Ndi Igbo and National Assembly members from the South East zone through the chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum,” he said.

    The Ebonyi governor said that the forum believed in the unity and indivisibility of the country and reinforced their desire for the restructuring of the country.

    “We reinforce our desire for the restructuring of Nigeria where all national issues will be discussed and amicably settled to achieve justice and fairness to every Nigerian.

    “Accordingly, we appeal to President Muhammad Buhari to, please, withdraw the military in the South East zone, while police perform their traditional role of maintaining law and order,” he said.

    Umahi said that the forum was in touch with their northern counterparts “who have assured us of the safety of our people living in the north and we have also planned for exchange of visits to reinforce confidence.

    “We wish to assure Nigerians that full investigation is ongoing on all allegations of killings, maiming and other unlawful conduct in the zone within this period,” he said.

    He said that appropriate actions would be taken against those found culpable.

    Umahi said that governors in the zone had taken adequate measures to protect the lives and property of indigenes and non-indigenes and urged northern governors to do same in their respective states.

    “We advise all residents of the zone to go about their normal businesses as governments of each state is committed to protecting everybody,“ he said.

    The governor said that all those invited for the meeting were present except the leadership of IPOB that sent in their apologies.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that at the meeting were governors of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu while Imo was represented by the deputy governor.

    Other notable personalities that attended the meeting were the Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Abubakar and the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo.