‘We’re now prepared for dialogue with Nigerian govt,’ – IPOB

The outlawed Indigenous Folks of Biafra (IPOB) says it’s now able to dialogue with the federal authorities over a proposed referendum for the independence of Biafran State from Nigeria.

The group disclosed this in an announcement by its spokesperson, Emma Highly effective, on Saturday, which was forwarded to PREMIUM TIMES.

“We the worldwide household and motion of the Indigenous Folks of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu want to reiterate as soon as once more that IPOB stays peaceable and stay open for negotiations and dialogue on peaceable exit of Biafra from Nigeria by means of a UN supervised referendum,” Mr Highly effective stated.

IPOB is a bunch main the agitation for an unbiased state of Biafra, which it needs carved out from the South-east and a few elements of the South-south Nigeria.

The group has been calling for the conduct of a referendum to permit individuals from the 2 areas to resolve whether or not or not they wish to exit from Nigeria.

Non violence

IPOB has been linked to some lethal assaults within the two areas particularly on safety companies and authorities officers.

However Mr Highly effective claimed the group has been non-violent and that Nigeria’s safety companies have been attacking them within the two areas — which IPOB usually name, “Biafra Land.”

“Because of these unwarranted assaults, many IPOB members have been murdered in chilly blood, some forcefully disappeared by the Nigeria Safety Forces whereas some are nonetheless illegally detained in varied detention amenities throughout Nigeria,” he stated.

“Many IPOB members and sympathisers have had their homes and companies burnt by the Nigeria Safety Forces. IPOB has misplaced over 5,000 members, with properties price over $1 billion on account of the intense use of power from Nigeria Safety Forces,” Mr Energy claimed, including that the group has not taken up arms in opposition to the nation regardless of provocations.

The spokesperson stated the group believes that it’s impracticable for Biafra and Nigeria to coexist as one nation given the occasions that occurred between 1948 and 2023.

He additional claimed that the separatist group doesn’t have any military and that its militant wing, Japanese Safety Community is a vigilante arm of IPOB created to cease actions of herders and never a army arm.

“IPOB is able to meet with the Nigerian authorities any day they’re prepared for negotiations on the Biafran referendum. We consider that Biafra may be achieved with out conflict and shedding of harmless blood of Biafrans or Nigerians.”