PRESS RELEASE

IPOB press release

Today: 19/10/2017

We the family members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and it's leadership worldwide under the command of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu wish to alert all Biafrans at home and in the diaspora about  the secret plots of the enemy to bring death and mayhem to our land on or around the 18th of November 2017. 

We equally wish to draw the attention of the world to a series of meetings held in Lagos with the express intention of arming some bandits and unscrupulous individuals to cause chaos in and around Anambra State in the run up to the gubernatorial election scheduled for mid November. 

This evil plan concocted by the APC government in concert with Nigerian military and supported by unscrupulous South East governors is solely intended to cement their dubious efforts to label the great IPOB a terrorist group. 

Up till now, all efforts to convince, cajole, intimidate and bribe some countries of the world to designate IPOB a terrorist group has failed. 

They hastily came up with this plan to incriminate IPOB in a violent incident in the hope of turning world public opinion against a peaceful organisation agitating for self determination through the instrumentality of a referendum.

IPOB intelligence unit successfully infiltrated the meeting where this bloodbath was being planned. 

We uncovered the secret venue in Lagos where APC Party stalwarts from the South East and South South geo-political zones met last week to finalise these murderous attacks. 

The meeting was attended by former Governor of River State Chief Rotimi Chibuike Amechi, Minister of Science and Technology Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, Labour Minister Dr. Chris Ngige, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, former Abia State governor Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu and Chief Raphael Lebeanya Uwazuruike the leader of Biafra Independence Movement (BIM).

At this meeting they resolved to provide arms and ammunition to a group of men that will be assembled by Ralph Uwazuruike and his BIM group since they need to give the attackers some form of Biafra colouration. 

They are to unleash a coordinated and violent attack against innocent civilians in Anambra State and border towns whilst dressed in Biafra and IPOB colours. 

These targeted killings of ordinary people is scheduled to commence from the evening of the 17th of November and last till the early hours of the 18th during the planned sit-at-home election boycott in Anambra State. 

The whole idea is to create the erroneous impression that IPOB is responsible for these attacks which will in turn lead to another wave of sustained military attacks on our homes. 

This will inevitably leave thousands of Biafrans dead because the Nigerian government knows that the world have consistently turned a blind eye to killings of civilians in Biafraland do they know they will get away with it. 

For the APC government led by Major General Muhammad Buhari, this will help convince the United States of America, European Union, France and United Kingdom that IPOB is a terrorist organisation and to tag it as such. 

It is also on record that USA, EU, France, Britain and many other civilised nations of the world has made it abundantly clear to that IPOB with registered presence in over 88 countries of the world cannot be regarded by any sensible government as a terrorist organisation.

This dubious meeting was deliberately held in Lagos rather than anywhere in Biafraland to mobilise APC thugs, and those who are not IPOB members to come to Anambra and surrounding states to wreak havoc on peaceful populations. 

We are not surprised that South East governors are still collaborating with Hausa Fulani Islamic North despite their role in instigating Operation Python Dance II which brought even more death and destruction to law abiding citizens in Biafraland. 

Should Buhari's APC government decide to go ahead with this plan, the world must hold Nigeria and South East governors responsible. 

Biafrans must be at alert because corrupt politicians in the South East working in tandem with the civilian killing Nigerian military will stop at nothing until they carry out of their devilish plans to implicate IPOB. 

They have mobilised vehicles, printed fake Biafra flags and IPOB uniforms; they have acquired automatic riffles and guns for this dangerous crime against our people during the election period. 

Biafrans are therefore required to observe a curfew from 5pm 17 November to 5pm November 18, 2017. 

Anybody found outside within this period will be killed by these thugs and men of the Nigerian Army. 

Every Biafran, especially those in Anambra and neighbouring states must not venture into Anambra State either on foot or aboard any vehicle.

The evil plotters promised to give out the sum of 20,000 Naira each to those who volunteer to kill their fellow humans in Biafraland particularly those who would be traveling to or coming out of Anambra State during the election period between 17th and 18th November. 

As a responsible people oriented mass movement, we are worried about this cruel plan to massacre innocent people once again in Biafraland. 

We are advising every Biafran to stay in their homes and not venture outside from sunset on the 17 of November to sunset on the 18th. 

The Nigerian Army, Police, Navy and Civil Defence Corps are coming to Anambra State to kill as they did in Abia and Rivers during their illegal and murderous Operation Python Dance II. 

If you don't come out, they will not kill you. Stay safe, stay indoors. 

COMRADE EMMA POWERFUL MEDIA AND PUBLICITY SECRETARY FOR IPOB.

IPOB PRESS RELEASE 2ND OCTOBER 2017

IPOB Press Release

2/10/2017

We the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and it's leadership worldwide wish to bring to the attention of the general public, international community and the world at large the ongoing plan to begin the destruction of police stations in Aba Abia State by Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu in concert with Hausa Fulani Islamic Nigerian government and her security operatives especially the Nigerian Army. They plan to use it as a cover to kidnap and abduct innocent Biafrans under the pretext that they are the perpetrators of these heinous crimes. This reign of death is what Okezie Ikpeazu and this Buhari regime have reduced governance to in Abia State.

IPOB have never engaged in any crime of any sort from it's inception till date. There is police station that can claim to have received any complaint of lawlessness or crime alleged to have been committed by IPOB. Our rallies and evangelism are all done in full view of the public and well attended within communities with no single recorded adverse incident till date. IPOB have never been involved in any retaliatory attacks or killing of any human being because we believe, along with our ancient values, that life is a rare gift from God, which is not in the place of man to take.

We are aware that this Islamic sadistic Nigerian government of Muhammadu Buhari and her security operatives, have little or no regard for human life as is their custom and tradition ably demonstrated over the centuries through a series of well documented pogroms. Igbo governors, who are essentially Hausa Fulani stooges in government houses across the South East are doing their damned best to turn global opinion against IPOB. Civilised nations and countries around the world know that IPOB under the leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not and can never be a terrorist organisation but the APC Islamic fundamentalist government of Nigeria headed by Gen. Muhammadu Buhari in collaboration with Dave Umahi, Okezie Ikpeazu, Willie Obiano and others is making every effort to tarnish impeccable global standing of IPOB. This latest evil plot, already perfected, is designed to legitimise even more brutal deaths, arrests, torture and detention without trial at the hands of Nigerian soldiers and police. Okezie Ikpeazu in his jealousy fuelled vendetta against IPOB, have unwittingly turned hitherto peaceful Abia State to a killing field for blood thirsty Islamic Jihadists from Arewa North hell bent on spreading Islam to every nook and cranny of Biafraland.

Today, Okezie Ikpeazu and his Northern masters have successfully hired unscrupulous individuals and groups to cause crisis in order to justify their  black market order obtained from the Hausa Fulani Islamic judge, Justice Kafarati designating IPOB a terrorist organisation. That civilised nations steadfastly refused to buy into the tagging of IPOB as a terror group continues to irritate and anger Igbo governors and their Islamic masters from the North.

We are also aware that Nigeria security agents has also positioned themselves in strategic places for any eventuality, should communities rise up against these terrorists imported into Abia to kill innocent people. Equally, Abia State Police Commissioner a non Igbo from Edo State, with no interest in the protection of lives and property in the state, have also readied his men to attack anybody who stand to oppose this evil plan against the people of Biafra. Nigerian government through her unprofessional army and police have commenced house to house search to abduct and kill those suspected to be IPOB members across Biafraland and Abia State in particular.

IPOB is therefore calling on all conscientious and civilised men and women, lovers of freedom, the international community especially USA, EU, Britain, Russia and France to intervene to stop this horrendous ethnic cleansing going on in Abia State, for the sake of humanity. The scale of killings going on right now is a tragedy of immense proportions and until the world brings this scale of barbarism to a halt, injustice will continue to reign supreme in Nigeria.

COMRADE EMMA POWERFUL MEDIA AND PUBLICITY SECRETARY FOR IPOB.

NIGERIA @57: HOW THE TRIBES WERE BROUGHT TOGETHER AS NIGERIANS.

NIGERIA @57: HOW THE TRIBES WERE BROUGHT TOGETHER AS NIGERIANS.

By Lazarus Obinna

The problem we are facing today was created by the British commercial interest. In 1851, Lagos was attacked by British forces. King Kosoko was defeated and deposed . In 1861, Lagos was ceded to British Crown. King Docemo signed the treaty of cession.

From 1851 to 1866, Lagos had its own Governor. From 1866 to 1874, governor of Sierra Leone ruled Lagos through administrators and from 1874 to 1886, Lagos was under the Governor of the Gold Coast. From 1886 to 1906 successful military campaigns were carried against Yoruba rulers and by 1906 pacifying missions brought Yoruba land under British rule. The territory was placed under the Governor of Lagos and called the colony and protectorate of Lagos.

The commonwealth report of 1956 reported that trade developed in the Niger Delta areas both on the coast and also in the hinterland. From 1832 , British merchants went up stream and traded with the natives on the banks of the River Niger as far as Lokoja. When the use of quinine made it possible for Europeans to settle in the interior, hinterland trade rapidly developed and many English companies were formed to exploit the resources of the interior. Acute rivalry developed among the traders who in 1879 , under the leadership of Sir George Goldie amalgamated , forming the United and later National African Company. Goldie defeated and eliminated a French rivalry company.

The English company was supreme in Niger valley and began treaty-making with tribes of the middle Niger, offering them British protection in return for exclusive trade with the company as well as mining concessions of all kinds. It was owing to the activities of this company and it's leader Goldie, that Britain was able to claim at the Berlin West African conference of 1885, that her interest were paramount in the Niger territories.

In 1886, a charter was granted to the National African Company ( which later took the name of the Royal Niger Company) to administer the protected territories in Northern Nigeria. In 1894 a treaty was signed with Bornu placing that territory under British protection. In 1897, the Emirate of Nupe and Ilorin  were defeated militarily. 1899 the charter of Royal African Company was revoked, the protectorate of Northern Nigeria proclaimed and the Company's territory came under the British Crown.

According to the commonwealth report, the area known as the Eastern states on the coast, as in the hinterland, events moved swiftly. With the development of trade, the British consular post on Spanish Island of Vernando Po was removed to old Calabar on the Eastern Nigeria Coast. Treaties were concluded with various coastal rulers placing their territories under British protection. In 1885, the oil River protectorate was declared. In 1891, the consul in Calabar was created commissioner and in 1893, the territory was renamed, the Niger Coast protectorate.

The tribes and rulers who resisted the British invasion were ruthlessly crushed. In 1887 punitive expedition was sent against King Jaja of Opobo, against the Jekri Chief Nana in 1894, against Brass in 1895 and in 1897 against the Oba of Benin. The coast protectorate was transferred to the colonial office in 1899 and was renamed the protectorate of Southern Nigeria in 1900.

Between 1900 and 1906, the Igbo's were defeated and pacified. Both the central and southern part of their land was occupied by British forces. By this time, the British power had now been firmly planted in the territories now known as Nigeria.

The attempt to create one country of Nigeria by British colonial master started in 1906 when the colony and protectorate of Lagos and the protectorate of Southern Nigeria were amalgamated into the colony and protectorate of southern Nigeria. A Governor was appointed and three provinces: Western,Eastern and Central were formed . All southern Nigeria was now placed under a single administration.

In Northern Nigeria, the protectorate of Northern Nigeria replaced the administration of the Royal Niger Company in 1900. Up to 1908 the chief administrator was called High Commissioner and after 1908 he was called the Governor.

Between 1900 and 1914, centres of resistance to British rule were attacked and defeated by Royal West African Frontier Force - Nupe 1901 , Kantangora 1901, Bauchi 1902, Bornu 1902, Kano 1903, Sokoto 1903. Lord Lugard carried out the pacification of the Northern Nigeria. By instituting the system of the Native Administration or indirect rule, Lord Lugard allowed the defeated Emirs and Chiefs to govern their territories in accordance with their own laws and customs under the supervision of British officers who acted as advisers to the Emirs and  restrained their excesses, whenever native customs conflict with the laws of Britain. By this system, he won the goodwill of the Emirs.

The second attempt was made in 1914 when the two administrations of Northern and Southern Nigeria were amalgamated, and named the colony and protectorate of Nigeria. Lord Lugard was appointed Governor-General and two Lieutenants-Governors. Later Chief Commissioners were put in charge of the two divisions, Northern and southern. In 1939, the southern provinces were divided into the Western  and Eastern provinces, each under a chief commissioner, with headquarters at Ibadan and Enugu.

Certain factors made the unification of 1914 imperative. Before 1914, the North could not find sufficient funds to maintain its own administration in spite of the annual grants from the imperial treasury and from the southern administration. The financial position of the south was satisfactory due to the rapid development of trade. Amalgamation was aimed at relieving the imperial treasury of its annual contribution towards the upkeep of the North.

Unfortunately, amalgamation did not mean the complete fusion of the two administration. In the Northern provinces , important departments such as Medicine, Education, Police and Prisons were separated in policy and control from their southern counterparts.

So the creation of Nigeria was as a result of British commercial interest and the saying that Nigeria's unity is non-negotiable is a crap coined by those who has continued to benefit from this commercial establishment called Nigeria and this is the reason why 57 years after independence,Nigeria is still walking on a tightrope.

What you are seeing in Nigeria today has been with Nigeria from creation... Let me end with part of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe's independence anniversary broadcast on October 1,1964:

" The atmosphere of the nation reeks with mutual antagonism, bitter recriminations and tribal discrimination. The causes are the enemies of Nigeria. They are tribalism,nepotism, perfidy,bribery and corruption. With tribalism on the ascendance, the personality of our nation becomes decomposed and stinks, with nepotism influencing their judgments the will of the nation becomes stifled and immolated. With perfidy as the vogue among some of our politicians  , the morals of our nation vanish to zero as no faith can be placed on the words of a crooked, double-faced, double-tongued scourge of the human race. With bribery and corruption permeating their way of life, the prestige of our nation dwindles to the vanishing point, defacing our national image, and bringing shame and contumely to those who wear the agbada of Nigerian citizenship."

53 years after this speech and 57 years after independence, has anything changed?

Is Nigeria truly independent?

Of what benefit is the amalgamation of the southern and Northern protectorate?