Nigerian Government has said it’s working with International allies to globally designate the secessionist group, Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, as terrorists organization.
This is even as the Presidency said the arrest and ongoing trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the IPOB – will lead to the death of the group.
The President said this in an an article written to respond to recent article on by Economist magazine on the rising insecurity in Nigeria under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
In the article title “Economist’s flawed, Anti-Nigeria Cover: President Buhari is strengthening Africa’s democracy” written by the President Spokesman, Garba Shehu – the Nigerian government said The Economist is correct that “the delusions of IPOB terrorists in the South-East” is one of the four key threats to the stability and prosperity of the country.
It identified the other threats to include ISWAP/Boko Haram terrorism in the North-East; kidnapping and crime in the North-West and herder-farmer disputes in the central part of the country.
It identified the other threats to include ISWAP/Boko Haram terrorism in the North-East; kidnapping and crime in the North-West and herder-farmer disputes in the central part of the country.
But the Presidency said the Buhari’s administration is taking on the threats posed to the Southeast part of the country and Nigeria by ensuring the trial of its leader, Kanu and further take oxygen off the group by getting it designated and recognised as a terrorist organisation globally.
“In the South-East, IPOB – which the Economist rightly describes as “delusional” – the arrest and present trial of the terrorist leader of the group is the beginning of its demise.
“The President’s administration is redoubling efforts to have IPOB rightfully designated as a terrorist group by our allies outside of Nigeria – an act which will collapse their ability to transact gains from crime and extortion in foreign currencies.
“It is important to remind the Economist and the global media that this group’s aggression and widespread presence on social media does not reflect their public support, for which they have none: all elected governors, all elected politicians and all elected state assemblies in the South-East – which IPOB claim to be part of their fantasy kingdom – reject them completely.
“It is only this President’s government which has taken on IPOB, the violent terrorist group which bombs police stations and offices of security agencies, while also threatening those who break their Monday-sit-ins whilst claiming the mantle of forebears who half a century ago fought a civil war,” the presidency said in the article.
