Stop testing our will, IPOB warns Army, DSS, Police

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has accused the Army, Department of State Services and the Police of arresting and detaining its members in Biafra land without any cause.

It said it would no longer tolerate the unwarranted hounding of its members across the region, warning the security agencies to “stop testing its will”.

In a statement by the group’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB wondered why herdsmen and allied violent groups who allegedly killed, maimed and raped innocent members were treated with disdain.

The pro-Biafran group said in most cases the security operatives would hunt and arrest its members for just tuning to the radio Biafra station.

The statement read in part, “We want to place the world on notice that the Nigeria Police Force, Army and DSS once again have started their normal house to house search of IPOB family members and those suspected to be IPOB supporters in Biafraland.

“We hereby demand immediate stoppage of the incessant harassment and arrest of IPOB family members in different parts of Biafraland.

“We are particularly upset by the recent arrest of IPOB coodinator in Ebonyi State; and the intimidation of an innocent woman in Oji river Local Government Area of Enugu State by security operatives under the guise of searching for Radio Biafra station.

“This continued illegal abduction and kidnapping of innocent people in our land must stop. The Nigeria government and her security operatives should stop testing our will.

“This provocative hounding of our people has continued amid killings, maimings and raping of our women by rampaging Fulani herdsmen in our communities which the same security agencies have not only pampered but allowed to continue unabated.

“Today many IPOB members and Biafra agitators have continued to languish in various police detention facilities yet terrorists are being granted state pardon with rehabilitation packages.

“We call on the UK high Commission in Nigeria, Amnesty International in Nigeria, UK, US Embassy in Abuja, UNDP in Nigeria and other countries high commissions and embassies in Nigeria to prevail on the Nigeria Government and governors to release our people abducted illegally before it becomes too late.”