The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a separatist group, has banned the use of the Nigerian flag in the country’s Southeast zone.
Emma Powerful, the group’s Media and Publicity Secretary stated this in a statement made available to our correspondent in Awka, Anambra State, on Saturday. She also declared October 1 a sit-at-home day.
“IPOB has declared a total shutdown in Biafra land on October 1st, 2021 as a sign of our rejection of the evil construct known as Nigeria, and there shall be no movement in Biafra land on this day,” he said.
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“In addition, IPOB has declared that beginning today, September 25th, 2021, all Nigerian flags flying anywhere in Biafra land, with the exception of banks, must be removed. The IPOB leadership will communicate directly with banks and explain why they must peacefully remove the Nigeria flag from their banking premises before we do it ourselves in our own way.”
The group went on to say, “In accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding and alliance between Ambazonia and Biafra nations, we would like to ask Biafrans to support and celebrate Ambazonia’s Independence Day on October 1st, 2021.”
“It is thus with great pleasure that the Directorate of State, of our great movement, IPOB, informs Biafrans all over the world of the upcoming Independence Day celebration of our great ally and neighbor, the Ambazonian people, scheduled for October 1st, 2021.
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“As a result, we urge world leaders to take advantage of the current United Nations General Assembly meeting to discuss the plight of the two persecuted nations of Biafra and Ambazonia. Our people have suffered enough at the hands of oppressors who are in cahoots with terrorists and take pleasure in crushing peaceful agitators rather than addressing our genuine concerns.”
Hoodlums enforcing an IPOB sit-in burn a bus carrying food in Enugu
On Monday, hoodlums enforcing a sit-in order issued by the separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), set fire to a bus carrying tomatoes, vegetables, and other foodstuffs to Enugu.
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This is despite the fact that the IPOB leadership has suspended the every Monday sit-at-home order, vowing to deal with any hoodlum who enforces it.
According to sources, the vehicle, a Ford brand, was set ablaze around 5:45 a.m. by people believed to be enforcing the previous sit-at-home order at Edem junction, Ibeagwa, Nike, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The vehicle was reportedly on its way from the Opi/Enugu bypass’s Ugwogo end when it was stopped and set on fire.
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Sympathizers reportedly called the State Fire Service, prompting a quick response from the Ogui Road fire station.
Even though there was little traffic, Enugu did not observe last Monday’s sit-at-home day. However, a shootout was reported later that day in the Enugu metropolis’s Garki suburb, according to PUNCH.
According to sources, the shootout last Monday may have forced residents to retreat and continue the sit-in today.
The IPOB leadership has announced several times that the Monday sit-in will end, but some hoodlums insist that it must continue until Nnamdi Kanu is released.
Residents in most parts of the South East have been forced to comply with the order due to violent attacks on those who disobey it.
When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, could not be reached at the time of filing this report.
The most recent attack resulted in the destruction of four buses transporting goods and foodstuffs, as well as several tricycles allegedly destroyed by hoodlums for allegedly disobeying the sit-at-home order.
