The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Monday asked all South-East Governors to shun any idea of establishing a cattle ranch in any state in the South-East region.
SaharaReporters had reported how hundreds of Nimbo community residents in the Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State staged a peaceful protest against the state government’s plan to establish a cattle ranch for herdsmen in their community.
However, IPOB, in a statement issued by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful on Monday said it would not allow any establishment of herdsmen camp in the guise of a cattle ranch in any state in the Biafran territory.
The group asserted that only Ndigbo were allowed to own cattle ranches anywhere in Igbo land, noting that they did not want to have any northerner operating any cattle ranch in Alaigbo.
The statement reads in part; "Subsequent to the plans by the Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah to establish a cattle ranch at Nimbo in Uzowani community of Enugu State, we the global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by the great and indefatigable leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu hereby advise Governor Peter Mbah to stop his sellout plans to bring the murderous jihadist Fulanis to Nimbo Community.
"Our people should recall that IPOB released a press statement last November 2023, raising an alarm over plans by Governor Peter Mbah to sell some community's land to Fulani bandits to establish RUGA in return for political favours.
"The Enugu State government, in connivance with some community leaders, has mapped out some community's land to be sold to Fulanis. The names of the community leaders in such connavince will be made public soon. Enugu State citizens must know about the arrangements of Dr. Peter Mbah in giving away their ancestral lands to the murderous bandits for his political interests and compensation.
"IPOB is monitoring Governor Peter Mbah and his collaborators. They should understand that IPOB will not allow the establishment of any murderous camp for jihadist Fulanis in the name of cattle ranch anywhere in Enugu State.
"If Governor Peter Mbah is genuinely interested in establishing a cattle ranch in Enugu State, such ranch must be managed privately by an Igbo businessman. Only Ndigbo are allowed to own cattle ranches anywhere in Igbo land. We don't want to have murderous Fulanis operating any cattle ranch in Alaigbo.
"Governor Peter Mbah should not allow what happened at Eha Mufu two years ago to repeat itself because of his need to chase a political cloud. The governor should understand that IPOB is not joking.
"ESN must be on an alert and wait for an order from the #IPOB leadership to move into Nimbo Community in Uzowani. We call on the community youths, community groups, and Enugu citizens to provide IPOB/ESN with any information of any proposed site for Fulani camp or ranch anywhere around Uzowani. ESN will stop at nothing to ensure that Peter Mbah and his government don't establish RUGA in any part of Enugu State.
"We are also informing South East Governors to shun any idea of establishing cattle ranch in any state in the South East Region. IPOB and ESN Operatives won't allow any establishment of Fulani camp in the name of cattle ranch in any state in the Biafran territory."