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Crackdown may begin as Defence Hq classifies IPOB as terrorist group

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Crackdown may begin as Defence Hq classifies IPOB as terrorist group

The Defence Headquarters on Friday listed reasons Nigerians should now see the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a “militant terrorist organisation’’ and no more as a non-violent organisation.

The implication of the latest classification is that the military is likely to crackdown on any person or group associated with IPOB, as treat them as enemy combatants out to destabilize the nation.

Nnamdi Kanu and his IPOB members, who have been agitating for the self-determination for the people of South East and some parts of Nigeria, have continuous maintained that the group is a non-violent organisation.

However, DHQ in a statement in Abuja on Friday released by Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, Director, Defence Information, said on the contrary, the IPOB group are now a terrorist organisation and vowed that the Armed Forces will confront “all security challenges facing the country.”

On why the group should be seen as a terrorist organisation he said, “After due professional analysis and recent developments, it has become expedient to notify the general public that the claim by IPOB actors that the organisation is non-violent is not true.

“Hence, the need to bring to public awareness the true and current state of IPOB. In this regard, some of their actions, clandestinely and actively, that have been terrorising the general public include: The formation of a Biafra Secret Service, claimed formation of Biafra National Guard, unauthorised blocking of public access roads and extortion of money from innocent civilians at illegal road blocks.

Read also: Viral videos claim soldiers invaded Kanu’s home, kill four, kidnap his father

“Militant possession and use of weapons (stones, molotov cocktails, machetes and broken bottles, among others) on a military patrol on Sept. 10, 2017. Physical confrontation of troops by Nnamdi Kanu and other IPOB actors at a checkpoint on Sept. 11, 2017 and also attempt to snatch their rifles.

“Attack by IPOB members on a military checkpoint on Sept. 12, 2017, at Isialangwa, where one IPOB actor attempted to snatch a female soldier’s rifle.

“From the foregoing, the Armed Forces of Nigeria wish to confirm to the general public that IPOB from all intent, plan and purpose as analysed, is a militant terrorist organisation.”

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0 Comments

  1. Anita Kingsley

    September 15, 2017 at 4:36 pm

    How is IPOB a terrorist group? The Nigerian army is not sensible at all! I don’t blame them, most of them are drop outs, while many of them didn’t go to school at all.

    • yanju omotodun

      September 15, 2017 at 5:28 pm

      Mumu, how does education affects the issue Nigerian military declaring IPOB as terrorists, then translates to the fact that If IPOB were educated too, they wont have incite agitation that will lead to war.

  2. Animashaun Ayodeji

    September 15, 2017 at 4:41 pm

    This is the best for the IPOB sand what they deserve. They should also be declared wanted and ordered all forces in the country to shoot their key members at sight. Terrorism must not be tolerated.

    • Abeni Adebisi

      September 16, 2017 at 11:30 am

      The IPOB may even turn out to be worse than Boko Haram if care isn’t taken. It’s very good they are declared terrorists already

  3. seyi jelili

    September 15, 2017 at 9:01 pm

    So in a nutshell, Nigeria is fighting two terrorist groups : Boko Haram and ipob, God will defeat them soon

    • Balarabe musa

      September 15, 2017 at 9:18 pm

      Amen, they are given our soldiers more stress because the forces they should have exerted on Boko Haram will be diverted thereby extending defeat day in a way

      • JOHNSON PETER

        September 15, 2017 at 9:39 pm

        That’s not an excuse, Nigeria government is trying to muscle the ipob with full force but taking the Boko Haram for levity

  4. Abeni Adebisi

    September 16, 2017 at 11:26 am

    It is only God that can deliver Nigeria from all these evils we’re currently facing in this country.

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