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Protests addressing hunger in the South-East have been prohibited by the Indigenous People of Biafra, who warn that any Nigerian operative attempting to stage such demonstrations within Biafraland will face severe repercussions.
This standpoint was articulated in a press statement by the spokesperson of the pro-Biafran group, Emma Powerful, highlighting that the existing hardships in Nigeria should be tackled by Nigerians, not by Biafrans.
IPOB cautioned that arranging any protest regarding economic struggles in the South-East would jeopardize the safety of Ndigbo.
The statement read partly, ‘Following the unprecedented hardship in Nigeria, IPOB ably led by the leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, hereby cautions the people of Biafra not to join any protest against hunger in Nigeria in any South-East territory.’
‘The current hardship in Nigeria should be the concern of Nigerians, not Biafrans. Biafrans are no longer interested in the affairs of Nigeria. Biafrans were abused, intimidated, beaten, and killed and denied voting rights during the election of this present government. Ndigbo were told to wait and that it was their turn to rule, not the turn of Ndigbo.’
‘Anyone who organise any protest against economic hardship in Biafraland will put Biafrans in danger. During the #EndSARS protest, the Federal Government accused Ndigbo of attempting to destroy Nigeria with violence. We don’t want such profiling and targeting to repeat because Ndigbo participated in any Nigerian mass protest.’
‘Ndigbo should leave the current economic hardship in the contraption called Nigeria for Nigerians to deal with because this hardship is what God Almighty has in store for Nigeria for the crimes they have committed against Biafrans between 1967 to 1970 and up to date.’
‘We understand that Ndigbo is equally affected by the economic hardship arising from the reckless and thoughtless economic policies of the government, but God is still seeing Biafrans through. We are worried about the suffering of other tribes, but there is nothing we can do. The current situation is why Biafrans are fighting for freedom. Nevertheless, we must apply wisdom.’
The group further said anyone or group that wants to organise a protest for Nigeria’s hardship should kindly go to Northern or Western Nigeria and stage such a protest there.
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‘Our region is battling the state-sponsored insecurity, kidnappings, and killings by the Federal Government’s agencies and agents, including terrorists. We have much on our hands to do. We will not allow anyone or any group to use the arrangement of protests to import more agents of destabilization into our territory.’
‘ESN is ready to take on the government’s agents who will want to organise hunger protests in Biafraland. Therefore, the IPOB intelligence unit must be on high alert to identify those planning to destabilise Biafraland with senseless Nigeria hunger protests. But Biafrans will come out of this one too unscathed. We will see how serious Nigerians are and how well they are handling the protest.’
‘Biafrans should call IPOB’s inquiry lines if any person or group are found planning to stage a Nigerian hunger protest in our territory. If we catch anyone organizing hunger protests in Biafra land, they will have ESN Operatives and IPOB volunteers to contend with, and the person will ‘smell pepper,’ the statement added.
As reported by The Eastern Updates, the agony of the food crisis worsening, youths in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, disrupted business operations on Monday, venting their frustration over the state of affairs in the nation.
The protest, initially centered at the bustling Mokola Roundabout, quickly spread its influence to Adamasingba, Ekotedo, Onireke, Sango, Bodija, Agbowo, and Ojoo, leading to the deployment of security forces to ensure peace and order.
The incident caused a notable traffic congestion on the always bustling roads that lead to Ojoo, Adamasingba, and Bodija areas.
Eyewitnesses reported that the protesters were holding up placards detailing their frustrations with the increasing cost of living, the unstable prices of basic food commodities, economic adversities, and urging the government to take swift action to make food more affordable.
The resonance of their chant, ‘Ebi n pa wa’ (we are hungry), permeated the atmosphere with fervor.
Some of the inscriptions read, ‘Mr President, this is not the hope you promised,’ ‘This is shege,’ ‘Is this the renewed hope that you promised?’ ‘End hardship,’ ‘We want peace’ etc.
