Edo killing: Prepare for self-defence – IPOB to Igbos

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has urged Igbos to prepare for self-defense following the killing of some Northern hunters in the Uromi area of Edo State.

IPOB warned the Hausa community to steer clear of ethnic tensions that could be detrimental to them.

Emma Powerful, the spokesman for IPOB, alleged that some Arewa groups are inciting violent assaults on Igbos and Christians in the North due to the killings in Edo State.

A statement by Powerful said: “The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) seeks to alert the Arewa group in Northern Nigeria, highlighting that its leaders and certain individuals are inciting violent assaults on the Igbos and Christians. They must halt their intended assaults immediately.

“We have learned that they have organized attacks against Ndigbo in the North due to the killing of the alleged Hausa hunters in Edo State.

“Conversely, native Hausas must exercise caution to avoid succumbing to the ethnic conflicts orchestrated by the same Fulanis who have been harming them and others.

“We have been reliably informed by our sources that certain individuals are already posing threats to Ndigbo in the North. We have received information that Fulani criminals have killed an innocent man, Uche Abagana, in Kofa Ruwa, Kano, due to the incident in Edo State. Ndigbo did not harm Hausa hunters traveling from Edo State to the North.

“Over the years, Ndigbo in the North have faced the worst of any ethnic conflicts in Northern Nigeria. We urge the Indigenous Northerners to exercise caution. The Fulanis should refrain from provoking Indigenous Hausas to attack Ndigbo in the North over the regrettable mob incident that occurred in Edo State.

“IPOB urges Ndigbo in Northern Nigeria to maintain heightened security awareness, adhere to the law, and be prepared to protect themselves against potential threats. Furthermore, Ndigbo in Biafra Land must also remain vigilant. Everyone must stay alert and prepared for self-defense since the Nigerian government and its tribally biased security forces prioritize the lives of the Fulanis over those of indigenous Nigerians, particularly the Hausas, both now and historically.

“If the victims of the Edo mob action were indeed local Hausa hunters, the Hausas ought to hold the Fulani terrorists and kidnappers responsible for their loss, as they have turned them into targets of others' retribution in Edo State. The Indigenous Hausa community is friendly and has no issues with other ethnic groups. However, the terrorist actions and abductions carried out by the Fulanis have made them adversaries of other ethnic communities, as many people struggle to differentiate between Hausas and Fulanis due to their linguistic similarities.

“Despite the regrettable lynching incident, the Hausas need to be cautious not to let the Fulanis drag them into the depths of Nigeria's ethnic conflict. Indigenous Hausas must remain vigilant, as their Fulani neighbors would not show them mercy in the event of ethnic strife in Nigeria.

“IPOB advises Ndigbo to maintain heightened security awareness and be prepared for self-defense at all times. Ndigbo are a people who cherish peace. However, they will no longer passively observe as their lives and properties are endangered without repercussions. Nigeria was established by the British for the benefit of the British economy.

“The sooner other ethnic groups realize that Nigeria was not designed to favor any specific group, the better it will be for everyone involved. Nigeria was created to serve the interests of Western imperialists. All indigenous ethnic groups in Nigeria must unite with IPOB to dismantle the British-imposed structure known as Nigeria, enabling the emergence of homogeneous and prosperous nations.”