U.S. IGNORES SMALL AFRICAN TERRORIST GROUP IPOB AT ITS PERIL
By Ivan Sascha Sheehan
- - Monday, October 4, 2021
The Washington Times

State Department needs to designate Indigenous People of Biafra as a foreign terrorist organization

ANALYSIS/OPINION:

An African terrorist organization is suing U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in U.S. federal court. It beggars belief.

So how did it happen?

The answer is frustratingly simple. The violent secessionist group in question – the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) – is yet to be designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) by the US Department of State. This is despite repeated pleas to do so by longstanding U.S. ally Nigeria, where IPOB is based and carries out its murderous activities.

It is difficult to explain how U.S. interests are served by inaction and complacency on IPOB. The listing costs nothing. But the designation would have significant implications for the group’s continuance.

Let’s start with the obvious: Tagging the group with a terror label would hit IPOB’s wallet hard.

As soon as the designation is applied, no organization that utilizes U.S. currency would be able to legally conduct transactions with the organization. By cutting off IPOB’s funding, the U.S. would weaken the 50,000 strong paramilitary outfit and provide Nigeria’s security forces room to train their sights squarely on ISIS-affiliated Boko Haram in the Northeast of the country. Counterterrorism operations against Boko Haram have long been assisted by U.S. agencies working in close coordination with the West African government.

Though IPOB may appear to be Abuja’s problem alone, the militants have served as a distraction and bled precious resources. Over the past eighteen months, Boko Haram has regrettably been able to regroup and rejuvenate. The same is true of Al Qaeda-affiliated groups across the volatile Sahel region. That the African continent is rapidly becoming a staging ground for global terror operations should concern U.S. officials.

But Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB’s leader, is clearly unconcerned. That he feels no need to even disguise his support of terrorism is worrisome. Though IPOB’s principal aim is to restore a breakaway state of Biafra in the Southeastern parts of Nigeria, Mr. Kanu’s rhetoric has become increasingly strident. “I don’t want peaceful actualization (of Biafra),” Mr. Kanu has said through his Radio Biafra channel, used to project threats, instructions, and propaganda into Nigeria from the safety of London. “If they don’t (give us Biafra), they will die.”


Neither does Mr. Kanu make idle threats. The December revelation of IPOB’s 50,000 strong-armed paramilitary wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), complete with a Swastika-style flag, marked the end to all pretenses of being a peaceful movement. What had been largely unspoken was publicly declared. Since then, violent IPOB attacks on both security personnel and civilians have surged by a terrifying 59%; deaths by 344%.
More than 20 attacks were carried out in the first three months of this year alone, including the retribution-style bombing of a local state governor’s home where four were killed, and an attack on a prison that freed some 2,000 dangerous criminals. Even neighboring states were forced to impose curfews to protect their citizens from marauders.


There is also a nasty racial element to the IPOB attacks. In addition to attacks on the state, much of their violence is directed towards the Fulani people, a nomadic tribe of herders that roam across West Africa. Through Biafra Radio, IPOB regularly calls on its supporters to not only kill the Fulani, but to kill “any landlord that gives accommodation or rents his house or her house to a Fulani person.” In one recent attack on a Fulani community, six young children were butchered with machetes – one, a baby, was burned alive. Their bodies were discarded in mass graves.


Whether with threats made on Biafra Radio or repeated acts of violence, IPOB coerces politicians and civilians to acquiesce to its radical political demands. One example saw all the governors of Southeast Nigeria bow to a 14-day ultimatum to ban open grazing in their districts – a move targeting the livelihoods of the Fulani – rather than face the wrath of the ESN. Similarly, it enforces a sit-at-home day every Monday, intended to economically cripple the region, through acts like the torching of passenger buses.


The U.S. has correctly prescribed terror labels to other secessionist groups that employ these tactics – the ETA in Spain, the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, and the PKK in Turkey. Now the people IPOB claims to represent, the Igbo, are even seeking to distance themselves from the group.
So why hasn’t the U.S.?

One reason may be the group’s million-dollar contracts with prominent American lobbying firms paid to whitewash the group’s reputation and lobby on Capitol Hill. It is impossible to believe that IPOB and Kanu’s deep pockets are not being lined by external organizations.


A terror designation would put a stop to this influence peddling. It would also mean the group could not use the US or its Western allies, like London-based Radio Biafra, to further their cause. The group’s outsized influence – a function of its radio station, paid hands, and US lawyers – would be severely curtailed. Law enforcement in the US, the U.K., and elsewhere would be obligated to act by shutting down these activities.
That a small terrorist organization can bully senior U.S. officials in American courts and leverage the influence of foreign agents to challenge an ally’s security would be laughable were it not so alarming.
Washington must not ignore Nigeria’s terrorists any longer.


• Ivan Sascha Sheehan is the executive director of the School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Baltimore. Opinions expressed are his own.



https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/oct/4/us-ignores-small-african-terror-group-ipob-at-its-/

Ok

Hmm

Nigerian Government trying all they can to make sure IPOB is designated a terrorist Organization

Lol the America that is suppose to help them bomb Nigeria.

May the spirits of those killed by IPOB gang, and that of those who died for nothing believing Nnamdi Kanu and his DOS scam that "Biafra must come", visit the funders of IPOB killers gang and their children

Igbo Nation our enemies are both IPOB gang and Fulani killers.

We must rid our land, plus SS of both IPOB and Fulani killers.

US is surely not as stupid as Nigeria.

But on a more serious note, does anyone think the Biafran ideology will end with IPOB?

People are really daft I swear.

You see the USA describes IPOB as VIOLENT.

That is correct.

IPOB are a VIOLENT street gang.

If not for their VIOLENCE it would just be their scamming.

However they are VIOLENT so must leave Igbo Nation and SS.

Illiterate Peoples of Biafra are terrorists for short

See how they labelled them "Small".

Omo, e don dey red for ipob be dat o. But then again, no one can ignore the campaign/reign of terror ipob is currently unleashing on the SE region.

Rubbish

Malami is a Terrorist

well done ipob. you've got the attention of the international community - albeit the wrong way.

Obviously a paid publicity stunt by the confused Fulani government ruining Nigeria for eons. The Americans and the British know Nigeria more than you Nigerians. Don't forget they created Nigeria for you to sing your anthem and wave your Jihadi green-white flag to. They know everything they need to know. That said, it's not totally impossible for such to happen. The Nigerian Fulani government under Buhari is desperately trying hard to tie Nigerias gas development to the British and the Americans, hoping this will be enough bribery to assuage the west and force their hands on Biafra.

The federal governments intentional formation of the UGM and subsequent utilization of their services to unleash horror in the East is part of a well coordinated campaign to tarnish the peaceful image of IPOB. They just want to pin violence on IPOB and ESN, then use that to ratchet up enough negative propaganda against the group. Kanu didn't help matters by siding heavily and openly with Trump. In any event, If the government succeeds, and the west goes ahead to term IPOB a terrorist organization, another organization will be formed and the match to freedom will continue..

Gradually we will get their. They are now small local terrorists, very soon they will be considered full grown terrorists.

Please someone should tell the terrorist government of Nigeria that they have failed in their bid to label IPOB terrorist organization, the world knows better.

How Nigeria government has fallen, while credible news agencies like Washington Post, Bloomberg, CNN et'al are reporting about IPOB and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Nigerian government are paying mushroom news agency like this one to discredit them, what a laughable move.

A paid agent giving Nigeria hope. Why in Canada your police has been designated a criminal group. Very soon other western countries will begin to see Nigeria government and its military the way they see Talibans. No country is taking Nigeria seriously any longer.

A country that derives pleasure in killing innocent protesters and turning them into monsters while the f**Ls applaud the security as they kill peaceful agitators. Is that a country?

IPOB is a very violent terrorist organization that is terrorizing the south east of Nigeria and I am glad the truth is spreading to all parts of the world. The US government should not waste time to list the organization as a FTO. The use of violence and terror to agitate for secession has no place in the 21st century.

The western powers are not stupid, you label ipob terrorist, you are angry they didn't, they label Fulani herdsmen and Boko haram terrorist, you are not happy because they are your kinsmen, your brain needs total formatting.

So this the reason why Nigeria government is killing and destroying in East.just to make the world see Ipob as Terrorist.






Thanks God the civilise world are not dumb and foolish like one Nigerians.


Modified

Reading throw i found out it's a cry by Fulani terrorist government begging US to help them fight Ipob

I Love the cry bellow ......One example
saw all the governors of
Southeast Nigeria bow to a
14-day ultimatum to ban
open grazing in their
districts – a move targeting the livelihoods of
the Fulani – rather than
face the wrath of the ESN.
Similarly

One reason may be the
group’s million-dollar
contracts with prominent
American lobbying firms
paid to whitewash the
group’s reputation and lobby on Capitol Hill. It is
impossible to believe that
IPOB and Kanu’s deep
pockets are not being lined
by external organizations. A terror designation would
put a stop to this influence
peddling. It would also
mean the group could not
use the US or its Western
allies, like London-based Radio Biafra, to further
their cause. The group’s
outsized influence – a
function of its radio
station, paid hands, and US
lawyers – would be severely curtailed. Law
enforcement in the US, the
U.K., and elsewhere would
be obligated to act by
shutting down these
activities.

What's the credibility of this unpopular media outlet? Don't confuse it with the popular Washington Post. Below you can read for yourself.

Washington Times media bias rating is Lean Right.
The Washington Times bias rating is leans right. The Washington Times has the slogan “America’s Newspaper” and targets center-right conservatives, even defining itself as a conservative news outlet. The newspaper was created by Sun Myung Moon to conservatively fight communism, and also to stand as another, more conservative option to The Washington Post, which he claimed had a liberal bias. Because the newspaper is conservative, the AllSides Bias Rating™ for The Washington Times leans right. As of April 2017, a vast majority of the 14,000 AllSides users who voted agree with the lean right ranking. This number is consistent with the July 2016 results in which a large majority had also agreed.

More On The Washington Times

The Washington Times, founded in 1982 with headquarters in Washington D.C., is a newspaper printed daily. It was founded by Sun Myung Moon as well as the News World Communications. The newspaper primarily focuses on American politics, but also briefly covers entertainment, sports, business, and contains editorial and opinion pieces as well. The Washington Times identifies itself as “America’s leading online destination” for important news information with conservative viewpoints. The Washington Times was financially unstable for 33 years until 2015, their first year turning a profit. Today, just above 100,000 newspapers circulate daily, over 600,000 less than its competitor, The Washington Post.

Sources:

They struggled for 33years making no profit until 2015. Who knows the person that bailed them out from that year which happens to be the year the current terrorist government of Nigeria came up.
Political analysts the world over cannot be fazed by the jaundiced opinion of such media organisations because they know better.
IPOB is marching on and the gates of the shithole will never prevail.
God bless IPOB
God bless Biafra

DeltaFire:

May the spirits of those killed by IPOB gang, and that of those who died for nothing believing Nnamdi Kanu and his DOS scam that "Biafra must come", visit the funders of IPOB killers gang and their children

Igbo Nation our enemies are both IPOB gang and Fulani killers.

We must rid our land, plus SS of both IPOB and Fulani killers.

May the spirits of Innocent Igbos killed by evil Nigeria government hunt all enemies of freedom.




Nigeria division is a must..

Commentor:
See how they labelled them "Small".

Just one paid editorial by a sinking govt,....the US and EU dosn't need to be reminded who is or not a terrorist,their embassies around the globe does that.

DeltaFire:


You see the USA describes IPOB as VIOLENT.

That is correct.

IPOB are a VIOLENT street gang.

If not for their VIOLENCE it would just be their scamming.

However they are VIOLENT so must leave Igbo Nation and SS.

gullible Nigerian have you ever heard of Washington times before if not Washington Post?

FakeUnity:
Useless editorial sponsored by Terrorist Mallam Malami and president Bokoharri the feudal fulani muslim terrorists against IPOB- a Christian activist group that only seeks for its people to leave the nigerian union where christians are slaughtered on daily basis by terrorist fulanis supporters of APC running nigeria like feudal fiefdom.

IPOB needs to mobilize and write a very strongly worded letter to Washington post in order to call their misguided writer Ivan Sascha Sheehan- a corrupt muslim terrorism supporter to order.

We now know why the FG has been killing innocent people in the east, ..just to tag ipob a violent group before the international community.

Lol, the federal government is really becoming very desperate. They're now paying foreigners to write tarnishing reports against IPOB all in an attempt to decieve the United States. However, they forgot that US government already has Intel and knows the truth

FakeUnity:
Useless editorial sponsored by Terrorist Mallam Malami and president Bokoharri the feudal fulani muslim terrorists against IPOB- a Christian activist group that only seeks for its people to leave the nigerian union where christians are slaughtered on daily basis by terrorist fulanis supporters of APC running nigeria like feudal fiefdom.

IPOB needs to mobilize and write a very strongly worded letter to Washington times in order to call their misguided writer Ivan Sascha Sheehan- a corrupt muslim terrorism supporter to order.

You confused the media outlets. This article is from the Washington Times and not the Washington Post. Washington Post can't write this garbage.

Fejoku:
What's the credibility of this unpopular media outlet? Don't confuse it with the popular Washington Post. Below you can read for yourself.

Washington Times media bias rating is Lean Right.
The Washington Times bias rating is leans right. The Washington Times has the slogan “America’s Newspaper” and targets center-right conservatives, even defining itself as a conservative news outlet. The newspaper was created by Sun Myung Moon to conservatively fight communism, and also to stand as another, more conservative option to The Washington Post, which he claimed had a liberal bias. Because the newspaper is conservative, the AllSides Bias Rating™ for The Washington Times leans right. As of April 2017, a vast majority of the 14,000 AllSides users who voted agree with the lean right ranking. This number is consistent with the July 2016 results in which a large majority had also agreed.

More On The Washington Times

The Washington Times, founded in 1982 with headquarters in Washington D.C., is a newspaper printed daily. It was founded by Sun Myung Moon as well as the News World Communications. The newspaper primarily focuses on American politics, but also briefly covers entertainment, sports, business, and contains editorial and opinion pieces as well. The Washington Times identifies itself as “America’s leading online destination” for important news information with conservative viewpoints. The Washington Times was financially unstable for 33 years until 2015, their first year turning a profit. Today, just above 100,000 newspapers circulate daily, over 600,000 less than its competitor, The Washington Post.

Sources:

They struggled for 33years making no profit until 2015. Who knows the person that bailed them out from that year which happens to be the year the current terrorist government of Nigeria came up.
Political analysts the world over cannot be fazed by the jaundiced opinion of such media organisations because they know better.
IPOB is marching on and the gates of the shithole will never prevail.
God bless IPOB
God bless Biafra

My bad, I didn't even look well.

Here I was thinking it was the Almighty Washington Post that published this distateful and ignorant balderdash, I didn't even realize it was a small time, struggling glorified blog called 'Washington times' seeking to break financially even for the past 33 years and their fake 'professor' called Ivan Sascha Sheehan who is pro-Sunni wahhabi and got a few wads of dollars from nigerian fulani muslim terror sponsors in government just to write fables and fallacies against IPOB- a non-violent Chritian Nationalist group who simply seeks to pull their people out of the asphyxiating evil union called nigeria run by feudal muslims terrorists...

The international community won't be fooled, a little googling and research of the true facts will discountenace this paid propaganda and tissues of lies.

If you pay me enough money i can get any article you want on Washingtonpist

Fernandeswagger:


You confused the media outlets. This article is from the Washington Times and not the Washington Post. Washington Post can't write this garbage.

Yes, my brother this feudal terrorist animals almost confused me.