The Indigenous People of Biafra have declared that they are now prepared to engage in negotiations and dialogue with the federal government over a peaceful breakup of Biafra from Nigeria under the auspices of a UN-run referendum.
The illegal pro-Biafran group said that in 2012, the peaceful movement for Biafra independence began without any crime or bloodshed, and that the Federal Government has since continued to target its members.
This was announced by IPOB in a news release sent out on Saturday by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful.
Powerful claimed that as a result of the excessive use of force by the Nigerian security forces, IPOB had lost over 5,000 members and property valued at over $1 billion.
“We, the global family and movement of IPOB wish to reiterate once more that IPOB remains peaceful and open to negotiation and dialogue on a peaceful separation of Biafra from Nigeria through a UN-supervised referendum,” the statement said.
“In 2012, the IPOB began its nonviolent campaign for Biafra’s independence. In all the years that IPOB has held protests and rallies, neither violence nor criminality has ever been connected to it. However, the Federal Government has declared war on IPOB through its security forces.
“The Nigerian security forces have brutally attacked some of our members when they were conducting a peaceful protest in various parts of Biafra Land.
“As a result of these unjustified attacks, many IPOB members have been brutally killed, others have suffered lifelong disabilities, some have been forcibly removed by the security forces, and some are currently being held illegally in a number of detention centres throughout Nigeria.
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“The Nigerian security forces have set fire to the homes and businesses of numerous IPOB members and supporters. The excessive use of force by the Nigerian Security Forces has resulted in the deaths of over 5,000 IPOB members and the loss of property valued at over $1 billion.
Despite all of the provocations, IPOB has never struck back or used force against the Nigerian government.
“IPOB promotes world peace. We support conversations and open communication. The founding principle of IPOB was to pave the ground for the peaceful breakup of Biafra from Nigeria. Nigeria and Biafra are two distinct countries.
“Events from 1948 to 2023 have demonstrated that Biafra and Nigeria cannot coexist as a single country. The Nigerian State has been contacted by IPOB for talks about a peaceful referendum date, but each time, the Nigerian State responds to the peaceful request with violent repression.
We have consistently argued that, under UN law, the right to self-determination is unalienable.
