The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has issued a stern warning to individuals and groups perpetrating violence, criminality, and public disorder in the name of the Biafra struggle, declaring that such acts are completely against the movement’s ideology.
In a press release signed by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, titled “Public Warning: No Room for Violence, Criminality or Public Disorder in the Name of Agitation for Biafra”, the group stressed its commitment to peace, discipline, and lawful advocacy, while distancing itself from the recent wave of killings, kidnappings, and extortion in the South-East.
“We do not compel obedience through terror,” IPOB emphasized. “We protect our people — not kill them.”
IPOB Distances Itself from Recent Attacks
The statement comes amid a surge in insecurity and violence across Enugu, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, and Anambra States, including:
- Kidnappings of civilians and security officers
- Extortion of traders and commuters
- Assassinations and arson
IPOB condemned these acts, calling the perpetrators either criminals or state-sponsored impostors, not freedom fighters.
“Anyone who abducts, extorts, or kills in the name of Biafra is not one of us,” the group stated. “They are saboteurs and enemies of the Biafra project.”
No Authorization for Sit-At-Home or Armed Operations
IPOB specifically warned against individuals enforcing unauthorized sit-at-home orders or intimidating civilians, stating such directives have not been sanctioned by its leadership under Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“From our Directorate of State (DOS) to every local unit, we have not approved any form of violence,” IPOB emphasized.
The organization also denounced black operations allegedly orchestrated by the state to frame IPOB and derail its peaceful mission. “We are aware of tactics used to justify the illegal detention of our leader in defiance of both local and international court rulings,” it said.
IPOB’s Core Philosophy: Peaceful Restoration Through Legal Means
Reaffirming its non-violent mission, IPOB outlined its strategy as:
- Legal action and court proceedings
- Diplomatic engagements
- Peaceful referenda
- Mass mobilization of Biafrans at home and in the diaspora
“We do not burn communities, kill our people, or disrupt education and commerce. Our mandate is divine, and our methods are peaceful,” IPOB stated.
Call for Vigilance and Loyalty
The group urged all IPOB members and Biafra supporters to remain disciplined, law-abiding, and committed to the peaceful leadership of Nnamdi Kanu.
“Any act of violence from this point forward will be treated as a betrayal of our leader and sabotage of the Biafran cause,” the statement warned.
