IPOB in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, warned the US government against allowing itself to be deceived by what the Nigerian government and its security agencies project about the secessionist group.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has cautioned the United States government against working with the Nigerian government to fight against its (IPOB) struggle for separation from Nigeria and the actualisation of the Biafra Nation.
IPOB in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, warned the US government against allowing itself to be deceived by what the Nigerian government and its security agencies project about the secessionist group.
IPOB described as a “laughable, disgraceful comment,” President Muhammadu Buhari’s claims at the just concluded US-Africa Summit, where he reportedly said that herders-farmers clashes in Nigeria are caused by climate change. He said such a claim is not expected from “a man who understands security issues.”
The proscribed said, “It is on record that the Fulani mass movement to the South, particularly Southeast, is for land grabbing, not because of climate change. It's an ethnic conquest agenda that the tribal and religious warlord Othman Dan Fodio started long ago and failed.”
IPOB questioned how President Buhari could claim that “the Fulani murderous militia that invades communities with arms and ammunition, killing and sacking communities is because of climate change?”
It noted that in Nigeria, “there are over 323 large, medium, and small dams in operation.”
It said, “About 85% of these large dams are located in the Sudano-Sahelian Region of Northern Nigeria, with 33% of the dam providing irrigation for agricultural purposes and for animal husbandry in the North. Still today, Northern Nigeria has the largest farming population and the highest food suppliers.
“Therefore, the mass murderers called Fulani herdsmen, who are terrorists and their sponsors, can't use climate change as an excuse to invade Southern villages and massacre innocent people.”
IPOB said that the “American Government assembled African countries in desperation to save a failed nation called Nigeria,” and therefore “provided a platform for Buhari to demonize Southern Nigeria, especially the Eastern Region, who have been victims of a genocide sponsored by his government.”
It added, “To date, Fulani terrorists have murdered hundreds and thousands of people, and none of them is on trial for the genocide because it's an ethnic cleansing agenda sponsored by the Fulani controlled Government of Nigeria.”
IPOB alleged that “some organizations such as International Democratic Institute and International Republican Institute have been bought over to provide cover for Buhari to misinform the international community, especially the American Government”.
“We cautioned the two American institutes in our previous press releases to desist from allowing themselves to be used by Buhari against IPOB, ESN, and all Ndigbo.
“The world must know that Buhari is lying and deceiving them. There is nothing like climate change causing migration or farmers and herders clashes. There is nothing like herders and farmers' clash arising from climate change.
“It is a lie from the pit of hell. What is happening in Nigeria is ethnic cleansing agenda which former President Obasanjo referred to as the Fulanization Agenda taking place throughout Nigeria but especially in the Southeast and Southwest.
“The Fulani-led government of Nigeria has armed terrorists and jihadists from the Sahel to invade the rainforest of Southern Nigeria to forcefully take over the indigenous people's land. The Fulani Elites have not hidden their agenda. It's on record that some Fulani Groups have said that the entire Nigeria's land mass and resources belongs to Fulani, and they will take it by force.”
The group said that President Buhari-led government “has been releasing arrested Fulani terrorists and recruiting them into Nigerian security agencies to provide cover for the armed jihadists. None of the Fulani herdsmen involved in massacring many in communities have been arrested or put on trial.”