By Emeka Okafor
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Wednesday threatened to truncate the Vice Presidential ambition of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State in the forthcoming 2023 general elections over the killings of its members in the state.
IPOB said if the continuous killings and indiscriminate arrest of its members continue in Delta, Okowa’s ambition will becomes “a mirage”.
Governor Okowa is the running mate to the presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, in next year’s elections.
In a statement by the group’s Director of Media and Publicity, Emma Powerful, reiterated that IPOB remains a non-violence and not terrorist group.
According to the statement, the United Nations had recently pronounced IPOB as a peaceful movement thus her members should not be treated as terrorist group.
“The attention of the global movement and noble family of the Indigenous People of Biafra under the command and leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu Kanu, wish to draw the attention of Ifeanyi Okowa, the Delta State governor, over the killing of innocent citizens in Delta State by Nigeria compromised security agents in the State claiming that they have killed IPOB and ESN.
“However, IPOB members are peaceful and not terrorists to be hunted and killed.
“We boldly want everyone, including Nigeria terrorist sponsoring government, to understand that being an IPOB member is not a crime. Recently, United Nations Working Group, in their public opinion defined IPOB’s struggle as a peaceful movement seeking lawful Self Determination from Nigeria.
“If Ifeanyi Okowa continues to play ostrich while this barbarity and shielding of innocent people’s blood continue, IPOB will ensure that his Vice Presidential ambition becomes a mirage.
It added, “IPOB is peaceful in all its operations. ESN under IPOB-DOS is only after Fulani terrorists masquerading as herdsmen in our bushes and forests who are raping our mothers, wives, and sisters.
“Delta State is now safe haven for these Fulani terrorists who are doing all manner of atrocities unchallenged. IPOB are watching with keen interest, and we are ready to confront Fulani terrorists in Delta State because Delta State is part of the Biafran territory.
“Also, there was no ESN operative or IPOB member killed in Delta State. Rather, innocent Biafran youths are being massacred at the watch of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. We challenge Nigeria police to publish the names of police officers killed by IPOB and ESN in Delta state”, the statement added.
