IPOB said the Eastern Security Network (ESN) operatives “are issuing a warning to those compromised traditional rulers to be very careful to know that this singler action of theirs can automatically become detrimental.”
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has threatened to deal with traditional rulers in the South-East region of Nigeria, who are allegedly collecting money from herdsmen and allowing them free access to operate in their communities.
IPOB in a statement issued on Thursday by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said that it received information from Fulani herdsmen in the South-East that some traditional rulers in the region collect money from herdsmen to allow them free access to their communities, which most time leads to destruction of farmlands and farmers’ crops.
IPOB said the Eastern Security Network (ESN) operatives “are issuing a warning to those compromised traditional rulers to be very careful to know that this singler action of theirs can automatically become detrimental.”
According to the IPOB spokesperson, “IPOB-ESN is giving directives to the traditional rulers and community leaders that IPOB-ESN will not tolerate any traditional ruler or community leader in Alaigbo (South-East) conniving with herdsmen who rape, kidnap and kill people in the community.
“Herdsmen testified that they paid traditional rulers and leaders before they entered any community and stayed up to three, four, or five months.
“IPOB-ESN will not spare any traditional ruler or community leader who is involved in this kind of criminal activity, and we are aware that some state governors are involved in this dirty deal as well. Do not be surprised that IPOB-ESN operatives will never allow them to succeed.”
Powerful stated that IPOB is “astonished and can not fathom why our traditional leaders will be thwarting the plans to make our land safe.
“If a traditional ruler doesn't accept what IPOB-ESN are doing to safeguard Igboland, they will be regarded as sabotaging our efforts.
“If you know that you are a traditional ruler in Igboland who has made a deal or entered into a business contract to allocate land for herdsmen settlement, you better stop it now and know that you are endangering lives including your own.
“Know that if we catch you, you will regret your actions against our land. From this moment, IPOB-ESN will be monitoring all the traditional leaders in the South-East.
“We are not begging you to stop, but we are informing you that ESN will treat you as working for our enemies against the interest of our land and our people.
“IPOB-ESN operatives are watching all nooks and crannies of the South-East because our traditional rulers have failed the people of the South-East like the South East politicians did. We must overcome their sabotage.”
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