UPDATED: Nigerian military declares IPOB a terrorist group
- The Nigerian military has categorized the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist group
- The Defence Headquarters said based on analysis by the military on activities of the group, the Armed Forces has profiled the IPOB as a terrorist organization
- The Force advised parents to warn their children to desist from joining the group
The Nigerian military has categorized the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist group.
The Defence Headquarters said following analysis by the military on the various activities of the group, the Armed Forces has profiled the IPOB as a terrorist organization.
However, according to a new report in The Nation, the chief of army staff, Tukur Buratai, denied that IPOB was labelled a terrorist organisation.
The DHQ in a statement signed by the director of defence information John Eneche said after due professional development and recent developments and activities of the group, it has become important to notify the public that IPOB and its members are not as non-violent as they claim.
Eneche also warned parents and unsuspecting residents of the southeast and the general public to advice their wards against joining the group.
READ ALSO: Nnamdi Kanu petitions UN, EU, US, 4 other countries over military operations in southeast (documents)
He said the DHQ also restates its commitment to handling all the security challenges in Nigeria while assuring all citizens of the security of lives and property.
The DHQ statement reads: "The Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) group which has posed to be a security challenge in the Country, has been 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 terrorizing the general public among others include;
a. The formation of a Biafra Secret Service.
b. Claimed formation of Biafra National Guard.
c. Unauthorised blocking of public access roads.
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d. Extortion of money from innocent civilians at illegal road blocks.
e. Militant possession and use of weapons (stones, molotov cocktails, machetes and broken bottles among others) on a military patrol on 10 September 2017.
f. Physical confrontation of troops by Nnamdi Kanu and other IPOB actors at a check point on 11 September 2017 and also attempts to snattch their rifles.
g. Attack by IPOB members, on a military check point on 12 September 2017, at Isiala Ngwa, where one IPOB actor attempted to snaatch a female soldier’s rifle.
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3. 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.
4. 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."
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Legit.ng earlier reported that the IPOB leader in a fresh move petitioned the United Nations, the European Union, the United States of America and four other countries over the activities of the Nigerian military in the south east.
Kanu through his lawyer Ifeanyi Ejiofor accused the Nigerian Army of intimidating, torturing and maiming unarmed resident of the south east region.
He further called on the international community to intervene in the ongoing operation and mandate the federal government to withdraw soldiers from the region.
You can watch this Legit.ng exclusive video of Nnamdi Kanu's lawyers reacting the army's invasion of his client's residence:
Source: Legit.ng
