IPOB
The Indigenous of People of Biafra (IPOB) has vowed it will not
give in to pressure by the military to stop its members from attending
the burial of the parents of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
The proscribed group said it was aware of the numerous plans and
strategies of the military troops deployed to the region in preparation
for the burial of the deceased, who it referred to as its “first parents”.
In a statement on Wednesday by the Media and Publicity Secretary,
Emma Powerful, the group described the presence of Nigerian army and
police as an insult to the people of Biafra and the Igbo race in
particular.
The pro-Biafran group warned the military to steer clear of the
burial venue, just at it cautioned mourners attending the ceremony to
conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the noble ideals of its
ancestors.
The statement partly reads: “We the global family of the
Indigenous of People of Biafra (IPOB) wish to reiterate in clear and
unambiguous terms that what Nigerian police and army are planning to do
in Afaraukwu during the burial of Eze Israel Okwu Kanu and his wife on
Friday 14th of February 2020 will set-off a chain reaction that Nigeria
will never recover from.
“Common arbitrary arrest of any mourner this week Friday is
capable of inciting a disproportionate reaction from angry mourners.
IPOB is warning all agents of Nigerian government in Biafraland,
traitors and caliphate slaves alike that what will befall CP Okon will
also be their portion should shots be fired in Afaraukwu. The era of
Nigerian army and police shooting innocent mourners in Biafraland has
come to an end.
“What is happening in Umuahia with the provocative presence of
Nigerian army and police is an insult to the people of Biafra and the
Igbo race in particular. All those that have in various ways supported
the unprovoked murderous clampdown on IPOB will pay dearly for it.
“IPOB has remained peaceful but it seems the Nigerian
government is hell-bent on provoking us into armed struggle that will
inevitably precipate the violent disinetegration of Nigeria. Nigerians
should call their government in Aso Rock to order and impress upon them
the need for their army and police to steer clear of the whole of
Umuahia township on February 14, 2020 in the interest of peace.
“They should head to the north where there are countless
security challenges. We want to join the people of Afaraukwu in
peacefully mourning the death of HRM Eze Sir I.O Kanu and his wife in
peace, who it must be said died as a result of Nigerian army and police
invasion of their home on September 14, 2017.
“What Nigerian army and police are doing in Umuahia cannot
happen in the north. We do not think the Alimajiri populations of the
north will allow the burial of an Emir to be subjected to such needless
tension and ridicule but in Biafraland anything goes because of the
reign of puppets and quislings.
“As we continue to receive daily threats from the army and
police regarding their impending massacre of innocent mourners on Friday
February 14, let the world be on notice that the floodgates of hell
will be opened should the army or police appear anywhere around
Afaraukwu on the day of the burial. Let those that may feign ignorance
of the fact be duly warned on time that burial ceremony is sacred in
Igboland, especially that of a king, therefore the intended nuisance of
Nigeria security personnel will not be tolerated on Friday.
“We are aware that those behind the deadly invasion of
September 2017 are the same people working with Aso Rock to bring mayhem
to Umuahia on Friday. Out of public view, these politicians and
so-called socio cultural leaders have been offering finacial support to
Fulani soldiers in Obinze, Ohafia, Abakiliki, Onitsha and Asa in
readiness for their deadly deployment to Umuahia. Their plan is to kill
as many people as possible to demoralise our leader and pave the way for
a full scale Fulani invasion and takeover of our land.
“We are equally in the know of the numerous plans and
strategies of the troops so far deployed by Buratai to the east in
preparation for the burial of our first parents. It’s quite obvious to
the average reasonable person that IPOB will not succumb to their
pressure regardless of the consequences.
“All their perfected plans to disrupt the burial on that very
day is common knowledge among diplomatic circles all over the world who
will be following the proceedings live on Biafra Television, social
media and Radio Biafra platforms.
“The plan by Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff Lt. General Tukur
Buratai to use the burial ceremony of HRM Eze Israel Okwu Kanu to
eliminate and kill anybody suspected to be IPOB supporter in Umuahia on
Friday 14th of February 2020 is equal well known, documented and powers
that be duly notified.
“The burial service of our leader’s parents HRM Eze Isreal Okwu
Kanu and his wife Ugoeze Sally Mmeme Okwu Kanu on Friday at Afaraukwu
Umuahia must hold peacefully.
“We want to make it abundantly clear that if the Police and
Army fire a single bullet on that day there will be no peace for every
soul involved, especially those that issued the order from the comfort
of their offices in Abuja, Enugu, Owerri and Umuahia. We need a
peaceful funeral, the ancient laws of our land demand it and nobody
should try IPOB.
“IPOB is strategically monitoring every individual politician
in the South East and governors over their actions and inactions towards
this burial on Friday. All those who may have joined the Fulani
boy-boy CP Ene Okon of Abia State to encourage Fulani soldiers to come
to Afaraukwu to kill people on Friday will pay very dearly for their
actions.
“It is unfortunate that some Igbo politicians and their
supporters would encourage Fulani terrorists and Boko Haram soldiers
recruited in Nigeria Army and Police to kill our people in a funeral
ceremony, a sacrilegious act that has never happened before in the
history of Igboland, Biafra and Nigeria.
“Every Biafran must be prepared this time, IPOB would not allow
these marauders to repeat what they did in Umuahia on September 2017 in
this 2020 and definitely not during the burial of the parents of our
leader. Nigerian army and police must stay away from Umuahia as a whole.
“We are informing every mourner attending the burial on Friday
to conduct him/herself in a manner consistent with the noble ideals of
our ancestors.
“All approach to Umuahia is rigged with CCTV cameras to monitor
human and vehicular traffic because IPOB won’t accept any confusion or
misunderstanding from anybody.
“Biafra independence and freedom is inevitable and nobody born by a mere mortal can stop it.”