The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) issued a strong warning to Bashir Ahmad, former media aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, following his comments comparing IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu to notorious bandit kingpin Bello Turji. IPOB condemned the comparison, asserting that Kanu does not support terrorism, unlike Turji and his followers. The group stressed that Kanu’s only ‘offence’ was the creation of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) to protect the South-East region.
IPOB Rejects Comparison to Terrorism
In a statement released on Wednesday, IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful clarified that Kanu’s actions cannot be equated with Turji’s criminal activities. Powerful stated that the comparison by Ahmad was not only baseless but also a deliberate attempt to divert attention from the role played by northern cabals in promoting terrorism. According to IPOB, Kanu has always sought peaceful solutions to the oppression of the Igbo people.
ESN’s Role in Protecting the South-East
Emma Powerful further explained that the establishment of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) by Kanu was aimed at defending the South-East from external threats, particularly against Fulani herdsmen. IPOB reiterated that the ESN has always operated within legal and non-violent boundaries, contrasting it with the violent activities of bandit leaders like Turji. The group reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful advocacy for Biafra.
Ahmad Accused of Deflecting Responsibility
IPOB also accused Bashir Ahmad of deflecting blame from the northern elites who have allegedly enabled terrorism in the region. According to IPOB, Ahmad’s statements are an attempt to malign the organisation and shift focus away from the government’s failure to address the rise of terrorism in Northern Nigeria. The group pointed out that the government has spent resources on persecuting Kanu while allowing terrorists to operate freely.
Kanu’s Legal Struggles Highlighted
The statement from IPOB highlighted the abduction of Nnamdi Kanu from Kenya in 2021, claiming that the Nigerian government illegally detained him despite court orders for his release. The group criticised the previous administration, which Ahmad served, for its alleged involvement in Kanu’s detention, while allowing northern terrorists to continue their reign of terror.
IPOB Calls for Focus on Real Enemies
Emma Powerful called on the public to recognise that IPOB and Kanu are not the enemies of Nigeria but rather obstacles to the Fulani expansionist agenda. The real enemies, according to IPOB, are the terrorist groups operating in Northern Nigeria, who have now turned against their former allies in the region. IPOB urged the authorities to focus on tackling terrorism rather than persecuting freedom fighters like Kanu.
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