Modupe Gbadeyanka
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) group has been declared a terrorists’ organisation by the Defence Headquarters (DHQ).
This declaration was made known on Friday in a statement issued by the
This comes after the Nigerian Army kicked off the Operation Python Dance II in the South East, which led to clashes between the army and the IPOB members in Abia State.
IPOB is seeking to leave Nigeria to form a new country called Biafra, but the Nigerian government is vehemently against this.
Leader of IPOB, Mr Nnamdi Kanu, was only recently released by the court under strict bail conditions, but he has flouted them.
However, there have been calls for his re-arrest, but some have warned against this, emphasising that this could lead to something too serious to handle.
According to the statement signed by the Director, Defence Information, Major General John Enenche, the IPOB group has posed to be a security challenge in the country, metamorphosing from one stage to the other.
“After due professional analysis and recent developments, it has become expedient, to notify the general public that; the claim by IPOB actors that the organization is non-violent is not true; hence, the need to bring to public awareness the true and current state of IPOB.
“In this regard, some of their actions, clandestinely and actively, that has been terrorising the general public among others include; the formation of a Biafra Secret Service, claimed formation of Biafra National Guard, unauthorised blocking of public access roads, extortion of money from innocent civilians at illegal road blocks, militant possession and use of weapons (stones, molotov cocktails, machetes and broken bottles among others) on a military patrol on September 10, 2017, physical confrontation of troops by Nnamdi Kanu and other IPOB actors at a check point on September 11, 2017 and also attempts to snatch their rifles, attack by IPOB members on a military check point on September 12, 2017, at Isialangwa, where one IPOB actor attempted to snatch a female soldier’s rifle.”
“From the foregoing, the Armed Forces of Nigeria wishes to confirm to the general public that IPOB from all intent, plan and purpose as analysed, is a militant terrorist organisation.
“Therefore, parents and particularly unsuspecting residents of the South East and other Nigerians should advice their wards to desist from joining the group.
“The Defence Headquarters restates its commitment to handling all the security challenges in the country and further assures all Nigerians of the protection of lives and property,” the statement said.
