Terrorist IPOB, dares Nigeria’s Forces, as members protest in Onitsha, vow to foil Anambra election
*Dont’t interfere with the election in your own interest, Police warns IPOB
*Says it will deal with them “the way an outlawed group should be dealt with”
*We have mastered the areas and we are familiar with the hideouts of the troublemakers – Army
“They (IPOB) should steer clear of Anambra because we have deployed enough personnel in the state; any miscreant who misbehaves would have himself to blame as he would be dealt with. IPOB should not test our will or resolve,” Mr. Moshood warned.
Despite being labelled a terrorist organisation by the federal government, members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, staged a demonstration in Onitsha, the Anambra State capital, threatening voters not to participate in the November 18 governorship election in the state.
The IPOB spokesperson said their demonstration was intended to notify the federal government that the group is alive.
“If you vote you will die. Don’t go out, stay in your house. If you vote on November 18, you will die. We are not running around for the zoo,” the members sang as they marched around the commercial town, abutting the River Niger on Friday.
“There will be no election. We will not participate, we will not vote. Nothing concerns us with any election. We are formidable.
“We are in Onitsha to tell the Federal Government to produce Kanu. They should release all the Biafrans in Nigerian prisons.”
The whereabouts of Mr. Kanu, who is facing treason charges, has not been identified since IPOB members clashed with soldiers in Abia State in September. Dozens of IPOB members have since been arrested and are being prosecuted by the police.
Videos of Saturday’s protest have since gone viral on the social media.
Emma Powerful, the terrorist group’s Media and Publicity Secretary, said to be faceless but only communicates with the press by press releases, told journalists through his usual channel that the group would not be deterred from achieving a Biafra Republic.
“Today in Onitsha, we broke the python Buratai, Ohanaeze, Obiano and Igbo governors brought to our land,” Mr. Powerful basted, making reference to the now concluded Operation Python dance of the Nigerian Army.
“Anybody doubting the resolve of IPOB under the supreme command of Nnamdi Kanu is mistaken.
“We will put Anambra State on lockdown on November 18. This is a taste of what is to come. Nigeria should be prepared.”
It will be recalled that these Igbo youths had blamed the reason for their agitations on October 1, 2017 quit notice by Arewa coalitiion, although their agitations are as old as Buhari’s government.
Instead for them to seize the opportunity provided by the Arewa group quit notice which had since been rescinded upon intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Sultan, they stayed back in the country they call zoo and have since continued to live their lives on the wealth of the “zoo”.
A respondent however blamed the current daring of Nigerian government by the proscribed terrorist IPOB on public commentators who have not shownpatriotism in their comments.
“When you read or listen to some of these public commentators or writers, you want to find out if they are one of enemies of Nigeria or just being footsoldiers of corrupt people who are bent to collapse Nigeria to enable them escape justice.
“But we insist, and I am Igbo of Nigeria, that the Buhari government must not be deterred by this new spate of show of desperation on the part of the corrupt Nigerians from that part of the country who are sponsoring all of these agitations. He should stand his feet and clampdown on them. If the prisons are too full, build more. Time has come that we must all take up the war against corruption and impunity in support of the government,” he said.
In the meantime, Nkiruka Nwode, Public Relations Officer, Anambra State Police Command, said the IPOB march has no effect, insisting that the state police command had concluded arrangements for effective policing of the state during the election.
She asked residents of the state to go out en masse to exercise their franchise on the day of the election.
Also, Jimoh Moshood, the Force Public Relations Officer, has warned the IPOB members not to interfere with the election process in their own interest, adding that the police would deal with them “the way an outlawed group should be dealt with”.
“They (IPOB) should steer clear of Anambra because we have deployed enough personnel in the state; any miscreant who misbehaves would have himself to blame as he would be dealt with. IPOB should not test our will or resolve,” Mr. Moshood warned.
Speaking in like manner, Sagir Musa, spokesperson for the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, which covers the South-east region, said troops have been placed on alert to tackle any breakdown of law and order during the election.
“The troops are always on ground to prevent any breakdown of law and order during the election. As you know, the police are the first line of security and we cannot usurp their role,” Mr. Musa said.
“We have mastered the areas and we are familiar with the hideouts of the troublemakers.”
