IPOB alleges arrest of members in Southeast

Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) yesterday raised the alarm over alleged indiscriminate arrest of its members in some parts of the Southeast.

The pro-Biafra group claimed that its members were being arrested and tortured in Aguata, Orumba North and Orumba South in Anambra State, as well as in Ebonyi and Abia states using authority of the governors.

IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, stated in Enugu that the clampdown on its members through illegal midnight raids intensified since it lifted the ban on election boycott in the Southeast.

“We are fully aware that most Igbo governors are not happy with IPOB because their previous strategy of using our election boycott as cover to rig the vote in favour of their paymasters, particularly in Anambra State where soldiers and police have been deployed in the villages to arrest anybody who is perceived to be a member of the group.

“We are calling on the chattering class and people who may come in defence of these governors in the future to take cognisance of what they are doing to innocent men, women and their families in the name of serving an interest. Their associates should caution them about the inevitable consequences of tampering with innocent law-abiding families in the various states because when we start with them, let their hired praise-singers not say they were not warned in advance,” IPOB said.

It added that the plight of its members in Anambra, Abia and Ebonyi states were becoming unbearable, stressing that their situation would not affect the struggle for Biafra’s restoration.

“Our movement and struggle for Biafra’s freedom is totally ordained by the most high God; therefore, these traitors in governor’s lodge across Biafraland cannot win this battle against IPOB. We are warning those affected to leave IPOB alone or they will meet their shame sooner than they expect.

“The ongoing arrest and abduction of Biafrans is in high gear now in every state of Biafraland and it started since December 2018 when the indomitable volunteer force members embarked on a peaceful and sensitisation rally demanding a date for referendum

“The world will bear us witness that IPOB is the most peaceful mass movement in the world despite all the provocations and deliberate attempt to push us into armed struggle. We know that our selfless effort and sacrifice to liberate our people from the shackles of bondage has not gone down well with some governors in the Southeast,” the group noted.