EXCLUSIVE: IPOB mulls armed struggle

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) says it is considering taking up arms to defend itself against repeated attacks from Nigerian security forces.

In November 2016, Amnesty International released a report alleging that Nigerian security forces killed at least 150 peaceful pro-Biafra protesters in the south-east between May and August.

“The Nigerian security forces, led by the military, embarked on a chilling campaign of extrajudicial executions and violence resulting in the deaths of at least 150 peaceful pro-Biafra protesters in the south-east of the country,” the human rights watchdog said in its report.

‎Also, last Friday, 11 members of the group were allegedly killed in a “solidarity” rally for US President Donald Trump in Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital.

Although, the police denied that there were casualties from the event.

Speaking with TheCable on Sunday, Uche Mefor, the organisation’s deputy leader, said the repeated killing of “Biafran” youth by security agents was a deliberate attempt to exterminate the local population.

He said members of IPOB had observed restraint for long, conforming to all laws, but that the current administration has been “terrorising” them.

“IPOB is law-abiding. We have continued to apply ourselves to the law. We have not killed anybody, we have not attacked anybody, but Buhari has continued to attack us,” he said.

“We have respect for human life, and we have not asked for war.  We have exhausted every democratic process. We  have been pushed to the wall. We are forced to defend ourselves.

“Self defence is a fundamental right; we have a right to self defence. We have been pushed to armed struggle, and if the millions of us take up arms the Nigeria army cannot stop us.

“The killings are a deliberate attempt to exterminate us. What we are asking for is a free state of Biafra. Buhari is supporting an independent state for Palestine and Western Sahara, why not Biafra?

“What we are doing is not illegal. It is supported by international law. We believe in the sanctity of human life.”

However, the IPOB leader did not state how the group would go about its armed struggle.

IPOB has become more visible since October 2015, when Nnamdi Kanu, its leader, was arrested for alleged treason.

Members of the group have held protests, marches and rallies across the southeast, south-south, and even in the federal capital territory (FCT).

It wants an independent state for the south-east and adjoining states.