The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has issued a stern warning to the Arewa group in Northern Nigeria, cautioning against any attempts to incite violence against the Igbo community under the guise of retaliation for the recent killings in Edo State.
In a statement released on Monday by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB condemned what it described as “orchestrated plans” to target innocent Igbo people in the North following the lynching of at least 16 Northerners in Edo. The victims had been accused of involvement in kidnapping activities before being attacked.
IPOB clarified that Igbos played no role in the tragic incident and urged the Arewa group to refrain from exploiting ethnic tensions for political or sectarian gains. The pro-Biafran group further alleged that intelligence reports indicate a coordinated effort by certain northern elements to launch retaliatory attacks on Igbo communities.
“We have been reliably informed that certain individuals are already issuing threats against Ndigbo in the North. Innocent Igbo individuals, such as Uche Abagana, have already been murdered in Kano over an incident they had no hand in. This pattern of scapegoating and targeted violence must stop,” the statement read.
The group also accused Fulani extremists of using the situation to stoke ethnic discord while manipulating indigenous Hausa communities for their own agenda. IPOB urged the Hausa people to resist being used as pawns in a divisive strategy that serves only a select group of elites.
Furthermore, IPOB called on Igbos residing in Northern Nigeria to heighten their vigilance and prepare for self-defense in the face of looming threats. The group emphasized that while Igbos are peace-loving and law-abiding citizens, they will no longer passively endure attacks on their lives and properties.
Reaffirming its broader call for unity among Nigeria’s indigenous ethnic groups, IPOB argued that the existing political structure is a remnant of colonial exploitation designed to benefit foreign interests at the expense of ordinary Nigerians.
The statement comes at a time of escalating ethnic tensions, raising concerns over possible clashes that could further destabilize the country. IPOB urged the federal government to take decisive steps in preventing the resurgence of ethnic violence and ensuring justice for all affected communities.
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