Insist IPOB is not a terror group
Federal government’s controversial designation of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organisation and subsequent proscription of its activities in the country has received a major set-back as the United States of America (US) and the European Union have added their voice to the growing dissent to the official reasons given for the IPOB ban.

The US government declared that it does not consider IPOB a terrorist organisation, barely days after the European Union (EU), condemned and rejected the unilateral classification of the group as a terrorist organisation by the Nigerian Armed Forces.

The President Muhammadu Buhari-led government’s controversial crackdown on the Nnamdi Kanu-led group seeking self-determination for the Igbo, which culminated in the launching of a military campaign- ‘Operation Python Dance II’ and its designation of the group as a terror group, took a new twist last week when a Federal High Court in Abuja gave a judicial backing to the executive to outlaw the group and its activities in the country.

The court, while granting the controversial order, to proscribe the group last Wednesday, argued that activities of IPOB constituted acts of terrorism. Shortly after the court judgment, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, disclosed that the presidency would proceed to gazette the order banning IPOB.

Spokesman for the American Embassy in Nigeria, Russell Brooks, has now disclosed that the White House does not view IPOB as a terrorist group. While reiterating the commitment of the US government to peace and unity in Nigeria, Mr. Brooks urged political leaders and other relevant authorities and stakeholders to work towards peaceful resolution of political grievances rather than resorting to crackdown.

“Within the context of unity, we encourage all Nigerians to support a de-escalation of tensions and peaceful resolution of grievances.  The Indigenous People of Biafra is not a terrorist organisation under US law,” he explained.

The US embassy, however, declined to comment on whether the federal government had asked it to treat IPOB as a terrorist organisation and to block money sent to IPOB from the US. Brooks also did not state the US’ position on the agitation for a Biafran state.

President of the EU Commission, Mr. Jean-Claude Junker, who made the view of the Commission known, however, warned the Nigerian security personnel against what he described as their ill-hearted and unprofessional handling of democratic issues and the rights of the people. Junker cautioned the Nigerian military chiefs that they must employ every democratic tenet to handle issues that concern the agitations of the citizens in Nigeria.

“It is the people’s right to agitate and make a request from their government; self-determination is a right enshrined in the United Nations Charter. The people of Biafra have every right to request for a referendum; they have been in this struggle for a while now and they have never killed or shot a bullet; instead they are the victims of attacks and murder.

The EU equally condemned the reported military assaults on civilians in parts of the south east in the wake of the controversial launch of Operation Python Dance.  “The entire EU hereby condemns the brutal attack on IPOB members and leadership under the pretentious disguise of a military exercise (Operation Python Dance). The Nigerian military is warned to adopt democratic tenets in handling citizens.

“The EU will not sit and watch things go undemocratic in the largest economy of the West African region,” he warned.

Mr. Junker promised to raise the issues concerning the peoples’ request for a referendum among the caucus of the EU, stating that the Biafra request for a referendum was not different from that of the Catalonians in Spain and the Scots in Britain.

He said the Nigeria government must rise above the suppression of voices of dissent and handle issues with every tenet of maturity and democracy.

Meanwhile, France has denied knowledge of the alleged secret funding activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) within its territory. The French Embassy in Abuja made the swift declaration following last week’s claims by the Minister for Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, that the financial headquarters of IPOB was in France.

As he fielded questions from newsmen, Mohammed queried: “Let me tell you; the financial headquarters is in France. We know, but you see, can you, as a government, stop sending money to your parents?”

In a communiqué, the French Embassy expressed surprise over Mohammed’s claims, insisting that it knew nothing about such activity. The communiqué signed by the embassy’s Press Officer, Ms Claude Abily read: “The Embassy of France was surprised by the statement made yesterday by the Minister of Information and Culture indicating that the “financial headquarters” of IPOB were in France.

“We don’t have any knowledge of a particular presence of IPOB in France and the Nigerian authorities never got in touch with the Embassy on this point. We stand ready to examine any information which could support this statement. Furthermore, we would like to reiterate that France actively cooperates with Nigeria in the field of security and that we strongly support the unity of the country.”

The United Kingdom High Commission in Abuja also reacted to Mohammed’s claim that the UK government was frustrating Nigeria’s effort to halt the operation of IPOB’s internal radio operating from London. In its response, the British High Commission said it was not aware of any representation from the Nigerian government about Radio Biafra.

The statement signed by the Press and Public Affairs Officer, Joe Abuku read: “The UK is not aware of any representation from the Nigerian government about Radio Biafra. Were we to receive any such request, we would, of course, consider it carefully on the basis of the available evidence, recognising that freedom of speech and expression carries responsibilities.”

Orient Daily gathered that the fleeing IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu had petitioned the European Union and other global powers on what he considered as unjust treatment being meted out to the Igbo in the on-going military operation in southeast region of Nigeria. In the petition, dated September 14, 2017, Kanu reportedly accused the army of intimidation, torture, arrest, abduction and killing of the civilian populace in the southeast He also petitioned the European Union High Commission, the presidents of United States of America, Russia, United Kingdom, France and prime minister of Israel.

The letter, written by the counsel to the IPOB leader, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, was addressed to the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, the European Union High Commission, the presidents of United States of America, Russia and Israeli prime minister.

The letter, which had attachment to it - of videos and photographs - of victims of the alleged army attack, claimed that the hostility against the IPOB members had escalated to other neighbouring states resulting in bloody casualties. It read in parts: “Unarmed civilians, largely made up members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, are now being tortured and murdered in cold blood on a daily basis.

“We have no doubt that the undisclosed reason for deploying troops to south eastern states by the President Buhari-led administration is to attack unarmed and defenceless members of the Indigenous People of Biafra who are merely exercising their constitutional guaranteed rights to self-determination,” the letter said.

Source: https://orientdailynews.com/cover-story/biafra-agitation-us/
Seun Lalasticlala mynd44[quote][/quote]

So... What should we now do...!! I am not a citizen of US or EU..!!

Somebori will be charged for war crimes. Time will tell.