Impressed by its publicly expressed position against Operation Python Dance II in the South-East, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has commended Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, “for their firm and decisive stance against the overwhelming tide of tyrannical oppression and genocide against the people of Biafra”.

In a statement issued on Monday by Emma Powerful, spokesman of IPOB, the group thanked Afenifere, stating that their condemnation of the army’s operation in the South-East had earned them an important place in history.

Many will receive news of this commendation with surprise as the group had been quite consistent in its vitriolic attacks on the South-West alongside the Northern region, especially in public comments made by its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

As IPOB continues to make public statements, it is still not clear what the status of Kanu is following the group’s clash with Nigerian Army personnel in Umuahia, the Abia State Capital, and the reported raid on his house by the military.

IPOB’s lawyer had raised alarm that Kanu and his parents may have been abducted or killed, saying his whereabouts remained unknown.

“The Afenifere and Yoruba council of elders and other outspoken leaders of south-west collective and individual condemnation of the Operation Python Dance II, staged by the present All Progressives Congress (APC) regime to suppress legitimate agitation for freedom through intimidation, slaughter of the innocent and military occupation has earned them an enduring legacy which history will never forget”, the statement read.

“IPOB under Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not disturbed by the terrorising activities of the present administration against his members, but maintained that it must achieve Biafra through non-violence approached we have maintained.

“We, the Indigenous People of Biafra worldwide under the command and leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu commend and thank the apex Yoruba socio-cultural group Afenifere, Yoruba elders council and other outspoken leaders from the west, for their firm and decisive stance against the overwhelming tide of tyrannical oppression and genocide against the people of Biafra.

“You rose up to condemn evil and their supporting well-oiled propaganda machinery that sought to turn the truth upside down and make people believe that light is now darkness and darkness light.

“Your collective and individual condemnation of the Operation Python Dance II, staged by the present APC regime to suppress legitimate agitation for freedom through intimidation, slaughter of the innocent and military occupation has earned you an enduring legacy which history will never forget”, it added.

“We also commend those men and women of good conscience from across all ethnic divides in Nigeria and across the globe that condemned the genocidal campaign of this Buhari regime against innocent civilian populations across Biafra land.

“With this public display of courage, we are hopeful that many more courageous men and women across West Africa and Africa, in general, will rise up against this APC tyranny and oppression in black Africa as other races have managed to do.

“With this, IPOB worldwide will remain steadfast and committed to the pursuit of the finest ideals of liberation to set free all oppressed and marginalised people in Nigeria and beyond.

“If IPOB worldwide is a terrorist organisation, all the freedom fighting groups in the world are terrorist groups. We must all stand firm now to confront and challenge this oppressive dictatorial regime of the present APC government because ultimately power belongs to the people not to the bigoted few”, IPOB stated.