Like its parent body, Ohanaeze youths say IPOB not terrorist group

The last Thursday judgment of the Abuja High Court insisting that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) remains a terrorist group has been rejected by Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council (OYC), who described the ruling as “very wrong and the height of double standard.”

OYC, insisted that IPOB is not, and has never been a terrorist group, wondering how the agitators for Biafra would be tagged a terrorist group, while the rampaging Fulani herdsmen with all their wanton killings were yet to be declared as terrorists.

OYC president general, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro said in response to the recent judgment, “We have recently checked the list of world’s terrorist groups and we are happy to note that IPOB was not listed among them.

“We frown at the continuous pronouncements of IPOB as a terrorist group while the Fulani herdsmen are at rampage, killing Nigerians and yet, they have not been declared a terrorist group. This is very wrong and the height of double standard.

“Although we support the unity of Nigeria, the question remains, has the Federal Government addressed those fundamental issues that brought IPOB into existence? Has the Federal Government genuinely set up South East Development Commission to bring remedies to Igbos.

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“We call on the Federal Government to grant state pardon to IPOB members in detention the way President Buhari granted pardon to 500 Boko Haram detainees in Kano as a way to assuage the ill-treatment meted on Ndigbo since 2015.”

Earlier, Ohanaeze Ndigbo parent body, had also condemned the judgment describing it as nepotism, “denigration of our judiciary” and “stigmatization of our children” (IPOB) members.

 

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