Group protest to American Embassy over stand on IPOB

Some protesters under the aegis of Coalition for the Defense of Nigeria Sovereignty on Friday stormed the United States Embassy of (US) in Nigeria over the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The protesters who are of Yoruba descent are angry over the declaration by the US that IPOB is not a terrorist organisation despite the statement by the Nigerian Military and proscription of the group which has been ratified by an order of the court.

The group said the activities of IPOB separatist movement were those that attract jail terms in the United State.

They carried placards with inscriptions such as read: “Americans! Stay Away from issues bordering on our sovereignty as a nation”; “We are indivisible in Nigeria, US beware”; “US, if you are not in support of the fight against terrorism in Nigeria, don’t be against it”; “US! US! Stop ‎your provocative support for IPOB”.

National President/Convener‎ of the coalition, Otunba Bolaji Alabi who addressed newsmen during the protest said Nigerians including the Yoruba had resolved for one united Nigeria.

He said, “IPOB has also been attempting to recruit and radicalise Yoruba youths to create a version of the terror group in the South-West of Nigeria oblivious to our nationalistic spirit and staunch belief in the unity of Nigeria.

“It was these brainwashed youths that had unsuccessfully attempted making demands for Oodu’a Republic, which does not enjoy any backing among us. The culture of hate speech being promoted by IPOB, which it is teaching these youths is alien to us as we are taught to be respectful and considerate of other humans.”

Alabi however noted that the position of the US that IPOB is not a terrorist organisation is “abhorrent and highly condemnable in the light of the psychological and emotional trauma that this terrorist group has caused us collectively as a people.

“Even in the US, every single thing that members of this terrorist group have done in recent weeks will lead to jail terms”, he stressed, adding,

“The United States should desist from making decisions from the comfort of its echo chambers, in which it only hears itself without the benefit of appreciating what the end recipients of the situation under consideration go through.”

The coalition lauded the proscription of IPOB as a terrorist group even as it called on the US to have a rethink and denounce IPOB.

Alabi said, “Our thoughts are that the United State corrects its mistake within reasonable time so that IPOB would not use its position as an excuse to spread its violence and hatred to other parts of the world.

We are closely monitoring to see how soon the US would do the right thing by distancing itself from a terror organization that has the Yoruba in its crosshair.”