The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has called on Igbo people to stop Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State from mortgaging the security and safety of the entire Igbo land because of alleged selfish political interest and desperate second-term ambition.
IPOB in a statement issued on Sunday, which was signed by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, accused Governor Uzodinma of taking over some parts of Orji and Amata communities' waterside in Owerri to create settlements otherwise known as RUGA for Fulani people.
The separatist organisation said any forceful takeover of Orji community ancestorial land for RUGA will not stand.
IPOB said it received information that the state government took over some parts of Orji and Amata communities in the guise of providing an industrial estate “but in reality, it is for Fulani terrorists masquerading as herdsmen”.
The statement said, "No inch of Alaigbo will be taken over by anybody and handed over to Fulani invaders who have taken over Hausa lands and desperately killed them and displaced the Middle Belt people of Nigeria.
“IPOB will never allow any of such pretentious land grabbing and conquest to stand in Biafra Land."
IPOB, however, called on the people of the communities at home and abroad to “stand up and resist Governor Uzodinma and his commissioner who are under pressure to relinquish their community land for any fake industrial estate or prepare to fight future wars with the terrorists’.
"Hope Uzodinma government's use of the instrumentality of force to grab community lands for his Fulani political masters has met a brick wall,” the statement also said.
"Therefore, we tell Fulani groups hiding behind Hope's government to take over Orji community land that they have failed. If they have made any financial engagements with Hope Uzodinma's government, they should go back and ask for their money.
"Hope Uzodinma and his Commissioner for Lands game to mortgage Imo State for their selfish political interest to Fulani in the Eastern region is dead on arrival. IPOB will never allow any RUGA settlement anywhere in the Eastern Region,” it added.