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Tag: IPOB

  • CAN distances self from IPOB sit-at-home order

    CAN distances self from IPOB sit-at-home order

    The Archbishop of the Enugu Province, Anglican Communion, Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma has said the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is not in support of the sit-at-home declared by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).

    Chukwuma spoke yesterday during the democracy day celebration and second year anniversary of Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

    The cleric called on the people of the Southeast to go about their legitimate businesses, saying that the clergy were against the declaration.

    “Before I offer the opening prayer, let me state the position of the clergy on the sit-at- home declared by IPOB and MASSOB.

    “We are not in support of the call. We advise all to ignore it and go about their legitimate businesses,” he said.

    He said the people of Southeast would fare well and enjoy more and better dividends of democracy in a united Nigeria.

  • Police disperse IPOB meeting in Rivers

    Police disperse IPOB meeting in Rivers

    The police in Rivers State yesterday dispersed a meeting of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Rumuolumeni community, Obio/Akpor Local Government of Rivers State.

    A source alleged that some of them were arrested in the process.

    It was gathered that the group mounted its flags all over the venue before it was invaded by security agents. When quizzed over the reason for the gathering, an argument ensued and the policemen dispersed the gathering with teargas. They also shot into the air.

    An IPOB member, King Okocha-Okparali, accused the police of molestation, harassment and illegal arrest of their members.

    He accused the paramount ruler of Rumuolumeni, Eze Ndubueze Olumini, of inviting the police to arrest and destroy their property.

    Police spokesman Nnamdi Omoni said there was an order directing Commissioners of Police not to allow such gatherings to hold, and based on that order, officers would not wait for further directives to disperse such meetings.

  • Police warn IPOB against disrupting public peace

    Police warn IPOB against disrupting public peace

    The police in Bayelsa State, on Monday, warned members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) against taking actions capable of disrupting public peace in the state.

    The police said they were collaborating with other security agencies to deal decisively with anyone creating panic and fear under the guise of agitation.

    The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Asuquo Amba, who spoke through the command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Butswat Asinim, asked the Igbos in the state and other residents to go about their daily routines without fear.

    The warning came following reports that circulars were being discreetly circulated in Yenagoa, the state capital, asking Igbo traders to observe a sit-at-home order today.

    RELATED POST: BIAFRA: Rising sun or dying dream?

    Asinim said the police and other security agencies would deploy operatives in flash points to curtail activities of miscreants.

    He said: “Concerning the agitation, the Bayelsa police command in collaboration with other security agencies has put in place a robust operation order to curtail activities of miscreants.

    “We are going to deploy anti-riot policemen to various locations in the town that may be considered as flash points and members of the public should not be afraid.

    “They should go about their lawful and legitimate duties as adequate security has been put in place”.

  • Cleric disassociates CAN from IPOB, MASSOB sit-at- home call

    Cleric disassociates CAN from IPOB, MASSOB sit-at- home call

    The Archbishop of the Enugu Province, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, says the clergy are not in support of the sit-at-home declared by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).

    IPOB and MASSOB had urged the people to sit at home on May 30 to observe the groups anniversary.

    Chukwuma made this known at the the Democracy Day celebration and second year anniversary of Gov Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in Enugu on Monday.

    The cleric, who spoke before offering the opening prayer of the democracy day, called on all people in South-East to go about their legitimate businesses, saying that the clergy were against the declaration.

    “Before I offer the opening prayer, let me first of all state the position of the clergy on the sit-at- home declaration by IPOB and MASSOB.

    “We are not in support of the call. We advise all to ignore it and go about their legitimate businesses,” he said.

    Chukwuma, whose clarification was applauded by the crowd, urged traders and workers to open their shops and ignore the call.

    He said the people of South-east would fair well and enjoy more and better dividends of democracy in a united Nigeria.

  • Ekweremadu to IPOB, MASSOB: sit-at-home should be optional

    Ekweremadu to IPOB, MASSOB: sit-at-home should be optional

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu has advised that the sit-at-home order declared by some rights groups in the Southeast for tomorrow  should  be optional.

    The Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) are behind the stay- at- home call to observe their anniversary.

    Ekweremaduwho spoke yesterday at an Inter-denominational church service at the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, to commemorate 2017 Democracy Day and Governor David Umahi’s second year in office, noted that while the agitation and concerns of the groups were genuine, they should not be pursued with force or other forms of armed struggle.

    “Individuals who operate private businesses and want to stay-at-home on that day should stay, while those who want to operate their businesses should be allowed to do so.

    “I believe that civil and public workers should be ready to go to work on that day as I appeal that no group should force people to stay at home against their wishes,” he added.

    The deputy senate president called on the agitators to embrace dialogue and constructive engagement in pursuing their agitation; not coercion or other forms of armed struggle.

    “The struggles and concerns are genuine but with the collaboration of all and constructive engagement, we will surely get to our destination no matter how long it takes.

    “Black Americans agitated for a long time before Barack Obama became president in 2008, likewise in India, it took constructive engagement for the people to actualise their agitation.

    “South Africa despite racial disturbances and black oppression, employed constructive engagement and intervention of the western world and African interests such as Nigeria’s, to dismantle apartheid,” he said.

    Ekweremadu congratulated the people of Ebonyi on the second year in office of their governor.

    He noted that the state had mature politically and socially, adding that any indigene could aspire for any political office in the state.

    Umahi noted that no individual or group would force the citizens of the state to stay-at-home on May 30.

    “I have met the leadership of these groups on various occasions and discovered that most of their agitations are correct but the ways they seek to actualise them can be faulted.

    “I have also met the leadership of market unions in the state and we resolved that markets would be open on that day and no trader or any other individual will be molested,” he said.

    The governor said that the case of Ebonyi was different as the state had suffered untold marginalisation right from its days in old Anambra, Imo, Enugu and Abia states.

    “The deputy senate president is fighting marginalisation of the Igbos at the federal level; when this is addressed, we will start our own agitation of marginalisation as a state.

    “Ebonyi does not believe in regional government because we will continue suffering deprivation but believe in the restructuring of the country to address all imbalances,” he said.

    In his homily, Rev. Fr Abraham Nwali urged political and economic leaders in the state to build industries instead of embarking on ‘non-direct-impact’ projects such as hotels.

    “The governor should be supported in his desire to ensure that sachet water companies are constructed in the three senatorial zones of the state,’’ he said.

  • Biafra: Police arrest IPOB, MASSOB members in Ebonyi

    Biafra: Police arrest IPOB, MASSOB members in Ebonyi

    The police in Ebonyi State yesterday confirmed the arrest of some members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in various parts of the state for alleged unlawful sensitization programme.

    The command’s spokesman, DSP Jude Madu, told the News Agency of Nigeria that members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) were similarly arrested.

    Madu said that the suspects were arrested for unlawfully sensitizing the public to stay at home on May 30, in observance of the group’s anniversary.

    “They would be charged to court and the command would ensure that they are duly prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.

    “IPOB and MASSOB are illegal groups and did not get permission from the police to embark on such exercise which threatens the peace and security of the state.

    “The command with the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Mr Titus Lamorde, has commenced intensive sensitisation of the populace to disregard the sit-at-home directive and go about their lawful businesses,” he said.

    Madu warned members of the group not to carry out outlawed activities within the state before, during and after May 30, as the full weight of the law would be brought on any defaulter.

    “Any person or group found culpable would be arrested and duly prosecuted as the groups’ activities amount to mutiny or fighting a sitting and legally recognised government.

    “IPOB and MASSOB are techniques developed by some individuals to gain public interest and recognition as the former is even a breakaway organ of the latter.

    “These groups have not provided amenities or other forms of social security for the people they are directing to stay at home; it shows that their intentions are not sincere and must be rejected by all,” he said.

    He advised the groups that not everybody was interested in issues concerning secession as people still remember the horrors of the civil war and other upheavals in the country after then.

    According to him, they should realise that most people are not interested in their preaching, therefore, they should not force anybody to be involved in their illegal and unlawful practices.

    Madu called on traditional rulers and town unions across the state to assist the police in sensitizing the people and provide relevant information about the group’s activities.

    “The command has distributed various call contacts (numbers) to the public to report activities of these groups within this period, especially molestation, if they refuse heeding to the stay-at home order.

    “Any gathering of two or more people propagating the IPOB/MASSOB messages or executing related activities should be promptly reported to the police for immediate actions,” he said.

  • Uwazuruike berates IPOB’s sit-at-home order

    Uwazuruike berates IPOB’s sit-at-home order

    •40 arrested

    Leader of the Biafra Independent Movement (BIM) Chief Ralph Uwazuruike has dissociated his movement from the May 30 sit-at-home order declared by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
    IPOB declared the sit-at-home in remembrance of those who died in the 1967-1970 civil war.
    But Uwazuruike, in an interview yesterday, described the order as cowardly, saying it was a way of coercing the people against their will.
    He insisted that the order does not show strength and popularity, and insisted that their 18th anniversary celebration of the Declaration of Biafra, which began yesterday, has nothing to do with other agitators who have decided to use the sit-at-home order to confuse and deceive people.
    Leader of the group in Enugu, John Nnamani said 20 members were arrested during yesterday’s march. He described their arrest as ‘unfortunate’, saying their colleagues in Anambra State were protected by the same police.
    But police spokesman Ebere Amaraizu said 40 members were arrested. He added that they will be charged for conducts likely to cause breach of peace.

  • Army denies alleged molestation of IPOB women in Abia

    The 34 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Ohafia, has denied that its personnel attacked and assaulted women group from the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) during its meeting on Saturday at Abiriba.

    The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), had alleged on Friday that soldiers from the military cantonment, Ohafia, Abia, molested some women at a meeting at Abiriba.

    The spokesman of the brigade, Maj. Oyegoke Gbadamosi, debunked the allegation in a telephone interview with the the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Umuahia.

    He said that contrary to media reports, the soldiers neither molested nor assaulted any women.

    He explained that some soldiers keeping security in the area only approached the women to ascertain the nature of their gathering near a military checkpoint.

    “The venue of the meeting was just about six metres away from the military checkpoint.

    “So the soldiers on duty approached the women and sought to see their leader in order to ascertain from her the essence of the meeting.
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    “On getting there, they were told that their leader went to the palace of the traditional ruler of the area,” he said.

    Gbadamosi said that the soldiers immediately proceeded to the palace to confirm if the monarch was aware of the meeting.

    He said that when the soldiers got to the palace, the monarch confirmed to them that he was aware of the meeting, adding that at that point, the soldiers returned to their duty post.

    Gbadamosi said that some policemen were also present at the venue of the meeting.
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    The brigade spokesman said the soldiers went back and encouraged the policemen to ensure that there was no threat to public peace.

    “Surprisingly, while the soldiers were making their way back to their duty post, they saw some of the women rushing down to the palace half-naked.
    “Why will the soldiers molest or assault women? Women are harmless; it is not true that soldiers molested and beat up the women,” he added.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Abia command, DSP Geoffrey Ogbonna, confirmed to NAN on phone that the meeting was peaceful.

    “I was told that the meeting held peacefully.

    “Although there was initial attempt to disrupt the meeting, it later took place in a peaceful atmosphere,” Ogbonna said. (NAN)

  • Biafra: IPOB has no right to restrict movement, force people to sit at home – lawyer 

    Respected Constitutional lawyer and an Abuja-based Rights Activist, Osuagwu Ugochukwu has warned the Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB), against compelling people to sit at home on May 30.

    The activist, warned IPOB group against taking the laws into their hands in their planned bid to force Ibos and non-Igbos in staying at home on May 30 2017.

    Ugochukwu said it was totally wrong for the group to force people who do not believe in Biafra to stay at home and stop motorist from moving in and out of eastern part of the country on May 30.
    IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, had in a statement, asked its members to observe the stay at home exercise on May 30 and remember their fallen heroes.

    Reacting however in a statement, on Sunday, Ugochukwu, warned the group against provoking the Nigerian government and the military; stressing that it would be better to fight for a course within the ambit of the law.

    He said: “Nobody is against your believe in Biafra and nobody is saying you should not exercise your rights in promoting your Biafra ideology. But in doing so you must not breach the laws of the Land .

    “The call by IPOB to all markets, transport companies, schools, banks, companies, civil servants, petrol stations, okada/tricycle unions, park management, artisans, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Drivers Welfare in Biafraland, to shut down on that particular day in honour and remembrance of our fallen heroes and heroines is unlawful. This is a threat to Sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Nigerian Constitution.

    “The laws of the Land allow for freedom of movement and any attempt by any group including IPOB to force people from freely moving will be treated as treasonable , breach of public peace and confrontational which the Military and other security Agencies would not take lightly.

    “IPOB has no right to restrict movement of persons and vehicles on May 30 as it is against section 41 of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended) which provides that Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereby or exit therefrom.”

    The activist urged IPOB to follow the path of Igbo apex social cultural group, Ohaneze who have been agitating for better deal for Ndigbos within the ambit of the law.
    ‎Ends……..

  • Biafra agitation is about my people – Kanu

    Biafra agitation is about my people – Kanu

    The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has said urged critics of the Biafra agitation to have a rethink, saying the Republic is a place where things will work.

    Speaking in Umuahia, Abia State, the IPOB leader said many people have misconception about the agitation, adding that the clamour for Biafra Republic is about his people and their freedom.

    He insisted that nothing will make him to back out of the agitation  until his people are free.

    He said, “I believe that you are aware that America and Canada have been giving people visa to come and live in their place and only those who are ready to abide by their rules go there.

    “That is exactly the kind of life style we are going to adopt as we have no intention to discriminate against anyone who wants to live in our land. It will be a country where everything will work the way it is supposed to work.”

    Kanu said many politicians are afraid of identifying with the cause “because they think we are after their position which has made them to allow the status quo to remain at the detriment of our people.”

    “We are not after any politician position and will never be. All we want is to ensure that things are done the right way so that our people can be free from modern day slavery,” he added.