KANU: IPOB may adopt violent struggle

Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu, on Wednesday hinted on ditching the non-violent position of his group following the recent alleged invasions of his home by the Nigerian Army.

This was as he said that his group will be meeting to vote on the viability or otherwise of “continuing our struggle in this non-violent manner, through the “instrumentality of the Directorate of State (DOS) headquartered in Germany.”

Kanu stated this in a statement he released on Friday announcing his withdrawal from the meeting with South East Governors Forum slated to hold this Friday.

Kanu had recently met with the forum in the bid to resolve the agitating issues of Biafra in the South East and was meant to return to Enugu State Government House for a rescheduled meeting with the governors this Friday.

But in the statement he said, “Before now, prominent leaders and groups had insisted that I toe the line of peaceful dialogue and meet with the governors to find a lasting solution to our grievances. I conceded to that request which led to the 30th of August 2017 meeting with the South-East Governors Forum at the Government House in Enugu, in the company of the very eminent Prof. Ben Nwabueze and Evangelist Elliott Ugochukwu-Ukoh.

“In view of the concerted effort by the oppressive Nigerian state to shatter the peace and tranquility of the South-East and the rest of Biafraland through military intimidation, it has become necessary for me to clarify why, regrettably, I may not be able to attend Friday’s meeting with the South-East governors as earlier agreed, for three main reasons.

“We are currently busy attending to our dead and injured from this latest round of unprovoked military onslaught against innocent civilians in our own land. All the casualties so far were shot by men of the Nigerian Army deployed to my house and those stationed along motor ways leading into Umuahia my hometown.

“I have been reliably informed also, that a detachment of this same soldiers responsible for the murder of innocent unarmed IPOB family members have now been stationed near Enugu to ambush and assassinate me on my way to the meeting with the governors on Friday.”

Read also: Kanu’s home under siege, as S’East senators decry military invasion of region

He added, “On that same Friday the 15th of September 2017, the leadership of IPOB through the instrumentality of the Directorate of State (DOS) headquartered in Germany, will be meeting to vote on the viability or otherwise of continuing our struggle in this non-violent manner. There is urgent need to begin the process of defending ourselves in the face of relentless murderous attacks from the Nigerian state.”

“It is impossible to engage in any meaningful conversation with the governors in the midst of so much bloodshed, abductions and military siege of our town and villages. Accordingly, we will not engage in any meeting with anybody until the atmosphere is conducive and peaceful enough to allow for such.

“I would like to use this opportunity to thank all men and women of good conscience from all over the world that have risen to condemn the barbaric slaughter of innocent Biafrans by the Nigerian military.

“We have since crossed the Red Sea and arrived at the shores of the Promised Land. We have our trumpets ready to begin the great march around the evil walls of Jericho, and I assure you that in no distant time, the walls of Jericho will come crashing down.

“We can still hear the cries of Pharaoh and his horsemen as they are swallowed up by the Red Sea, chariots and all. Victory is ours! Victory is assured!! Collaborators and agents of the oppressor are hereby advised to embark on self-exile as there will be no hiding place for them”, he stated.

The Nigerian Army allegedly invaded Kanu’s home in Abia State on Sunday September 10 and Tuesday September 12 and reportedly killed and wounded some members of the IPOB.

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