The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has declared its readiness to engage in negotiations with the Federal Government of Nigeria for the peaceful separation of Biafra from Nigeria, under the supervision of the United Nations.
IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful stated that the group would agree to a peaceful negotiation and a UN-supervised referendum.
Emma revealed that the group has been calling on the Nigerian government for discussions on a peaceful referendum date, but the government has always returned the peaceful call with violent suppression.
He recalled that IPOB’s peaceful agitation for Biafra Independence started in 2012 and has never been associated with violence or criminality in all their years of rallies and protests.
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However, IPOB members have been brutally attacked while on a peaceful protest by the Nigerian security forces at many locations in Biafra Land.
The spokesman declared that as a result of the unwarranted attacks, many IPOB members have been murdered in cold blood, some have been permanently handicapped, some forcefully taken away by the security forces whereas some are still illegally detained in various detention facilities across Nigeria.
He said:
“IPOB is ready to meet with the Nigerian government any day they are ready for negotiations on Biafra referendum.
“IPOB supports peaceful separation from Nigeria and believes that Biafra can be achieved without war and shedding of innocent blood of Biafrans or Nigerians.
“We the global family and movement of IPOB wish to reiterate once again that IPOB remains peaceful and open for negotiations and dialogue on peaceful exit of Biafra from Nigeria through a UN supervised Referendum.
“IPOB’s peaceful agitation for Biafra Independence started in 2012. Never has IPOB been associated with violence or criminality in all our years of rallies and protests.
“Nevertheless, Federal Government, through its security forces, has levied war against IPOB.
“Our members have been brutally attacked while on peaceful protest by the Nigeria security forces at many locations in Biafra Land.
“As a result of these unwarranted attacks, many IPOB members have been murdered in cold blood, some have been permanently handicapped, some forcefully taken away by the security forces whereas some are still illegally detained in various detention facilities across Nigeria.
“Many IPOB members and sympathisers have had their houses and businesses burnt by the Nigeria security forces.
“IPOB has lost over 5,000 members with properties worth over $1bn as a result of the extreme use of force from the Nigeria Security Forces.
“Irrespective of all the provocations, IPOB has never retaliated nor have we taken up arms against the Nigerian State.
“IPOB stands for peace. We stand for dialogue, and we stand for discussions. The cardinal rule under which IPOB was formed is to lead the way to a peaceful separation of Biafra from Nigeria.
“Biafra and Nigeria are two different nations.
“The events from 1948 to 2023 have shown that it is practically impossible for Biafra and Nigeria to coexist as one nation.
“IPOB has been calling on the Nigeria State for discussions on a peaceful referendum date, but the Nigeria State always returns the peaceful call with violent suppression.
“We have always maintained that self-determination is our inalienable right according to the UN laws.”
