Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has vowed to avenge the killing and abduction of its members by security forces in Nigeria.
In what it tagged ‘black Friday,’ the group alleged that security agencies in a joint military operation, massacred no fewer than 50 pro-Biafran supporters in Aba Abia State on Friday.
The victims were protesting the continued detention of IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu at the Department of State Security Services (DSS), Abuja despite Appeal Court ruling mid last year.
In a statement signed by its Media, and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, IPOB said its members were only on a peaceful protest, demanding the unconditional release of its leader when the attack was launched.
According to the statement, over 30 protesters sustained various degrees of life bullet wounds, while many others are yet to be found.
It also said many of the dead victims were taken away by the security operatives in an effort to hide their crime, noting that it was only three dead bodies that had been recovered thus far.
The statement made available to Ikengaonline read: “The global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under the leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wishes to give expression to our anger and rage over the continued killing of Biafrans by the Nigerian Security forces.
“The brutal murder of 50 protesters, forceful disappearances, and abduction of many, and gun injury to many more peaceful Biafran protesters for demanding the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi KANU as Appeal Court has pronounced, that he should be discharged and acquitted, are grave atrocity.
“On the black Friday, March 31, 2023, many of our people were murdered and we shall duly recognise their sacrifice when Biafra history is written. The continuous abduction and massacre of unarmed Biafrans by Nigeria Security Agencies shall not go un-avenged at the appointed time. He who kills by the sword should be ready to die by the sword.
“We are not complaining about the murder of our members and Biafrans, so that the Nigeria Government and her security agencies will repent and stop, rather we want to make that fact available to the world for it to bear us witness that we informed the International Community especially the West, that the blood of Biafrans is being wasted without provocations.
“IPOB movement has been peaceful even when the Federal Government sponsored criminals to infiltrate and impersonate us. We defeated them. Nigeria’s government should note that there is a limit to what we can take before we fight back.
“They are pushing us to the wall. Unfortunately, we can’t penetrate the wall, so we have to defend ourselves through whatever means available to us in order to survive.
“We have a report that the Nigerian security forces are going from house to house abducting innocent civilians from their homes.
“Self-determination and self- defense are inalienable rights enshrined and recognised by Charters and Instruments of international organisations. We shall defend ourselves with everything we have.
“No amount of arrest, abduction, torture, detention, extrajudicial executions, or extraordinary rendition can stop their resolve to restore Biafra. It’s either Biafra or Biafra,” it said.
