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General News of Monday, 23 August 2021

Source: punchng.com

'We won’t enforce sit-at-home again' - IPOB

A burnt vehicle A burnt vehicle

The leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra has warned the people of the South-East to be vigilant on Monday (today), claiming security agents may unleash mayhem on innocent citizens and blame it on members of the Eastern Security Network.

This is as the secessionist group reiterated that it had no plan to enforce its hitherto weekly sit-at-home order, alleging that it had uncovered a plot by security operatives to disguise as its members and those of ESN to “attack traders who come out tomorrow for their legitimate businesses”.

IPOB noted that it was expedient for the global community to be aware that it had since two weeks ago suspended its earlier weekly sit-at-home order.

The proscribed group stated this in a statement signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Emma Powerful, a copy of which was made available to The PUNCH on Sunday.

The statement read in part, “The intelligence unit of IPOB has uncovered secret plots by the Nigeria security agencies, most especially the DSS and the police to disguise as IPOB and ESN operatives to attack traders who come out tomorrow for their legitimate businesses.

“IPOB restates that there is no longer Ghost Mondays in Biafra land in solidarity with our detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Sit-at-home will only be observed on the days our leader will be making appearances in court. Such days will be well publicised ahead of time.

“Everybody is hereby placed on alert about this wicked plot. IPOB will not tolerate any attack on any Biafran or resident of Biafra under any guise.

“Security agencies have perfected plans to unleash attacks on innocent people in the name of ESN and IPOB volunteers. We have no plans again to enforce any sit-at-home order.

“We understand that all DPOs, DCOs other senior police officers in Enugu held meetings to perfect this plan to attack innocent Biafrans and tag it ESN attacks."

Reacting, the Enugu State Police spokesman, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “Police in Enugu remain committed to the protection of lives and property. We have asked all law-abiding Nigerians resident in Enugu to go about their normal businesses on Monday as police will ensure their safety.”

Masari’s self-defence call vindicates Nnamdi KanuMeanwhile, the IPOB has said the call by the Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, for citizens of the state to defend themselves against marauding Fulani herdsmen, has vindicated its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who it noted, had advised innocent Nigerians to acquire arms and protect themselves.

The group said Masari’s message should be a wake-up call for governors of the South-East zone, who it equally observed, did not understand the modus operandi, through which bandits operated.

IPOB, in a statement on Saturday by its Director of Media and Publicity, Emma Powerful, said, “Our leader is the man who saw tomorrow; everything he said has fully happened.

“This is a clarion call on South-East governors, who do not understand the tactics and gimmicks, which Fulani are playing in their desperation to conquer and Islamise indigenous people living in Nigeria.”