IPOB accused the federal government of sponsoring fake news against it with the aim of making it look like a terrorist organisation
The Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), has accused the federal government of Nigeria of sponsoring fake news against it, with the object of ridiculing it before the international community.
In a statement by its publicity secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB made reference to a recent news item which alleged that it had been designated as a terrorist organisation by the United Kingdom (UK), blaming the federal government for the spreading the information. UK has however debunked the news.
IPOB insisted that it was only interested in freedom for Biafra and accused the federal government of sponsoring insecurity and banditry in Biafra land while linking it with IPOB in its desperation to demonise IPOB and ESN operatives and present the organisation as a terrorist organisation that it is not.
The statement reads in parts:
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“We are the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movement worldwide ably led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Our attention has been drawn to the inaccurate and fake news purporting that the United Kingdom, UK Government has classified IPOB as a terrorist organisation.
“We, therefore, wish to clarify that there is no iota of truth in the said malicious fake news planted and being peddled by the enemies of Biafra’s freedom and independence. Nothing more may be said than the clarification already given by the British High Commission in Abuja, to the effect that the said media report is untrue and should be disregarded.
“The curiosity and childish haste with which the Nigerian Government celebrated the said fake news, commending the UK Government for the imaginary but non-existent proscription only confirmed that the Muhammadu Buhari controlled Federal Government of Nigeria is behind the fake news.
“Maybe the federal government easily forgets that the UK is not Nigeria where there is no rule of law and due process. Nigeria unilaterally proscribed IPOB and designated IPOB terror organisations while freeing and compensating Fulani bandits, the real mass murderers. What hypocrisy.
“Nigeria Government has been sponsoring insecurity and banditry in Biafra land and continues linking it with IPOB in its desperation to demonise IPOB and ESN operatives and present us as a terrorist organisation that we are not. Nigeria kills its own citizens like the recent case in Imo State where an Army couple was beheaded after the woman was allegedly raped can you believe this, all in a bid to nail IPOB and justify the likely military invasion of our land.”
It maintained that IPOB is a peaceful and nonviolent movement seeking to free indigenous Nigerians from the bondage Fulani put every tribe in Nigeria.