IPOB dominates National Security Council meeting

The Chief of Defence Staff, Maj. Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, has said that the secret service of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) was among the issues discussed at the meeting which President Muhammadu Buhari had with members of the national security council. The meeting lasted three hours.

Maj. Gen. Olonisakin said the service chiefs updated President Buhari on security related developments during his medical vacation in the United Kingdom. He also said that the Boko Haram crisis, clashes between farmers and herdsmen and kidnapping that were touched during the meeting.

“We have been meeting with Mr President for the last three hours. We updated him on all security issues around the country, within the country and outside the country, where our troops are,” he said.

“Of course, we have just updated him because he is aware of what’s been happening. He has been receiving regular briefings from the acting president and he has also been going through the print media and electronic media to follow the happenings in the country.

“After the meeting, he has directed on some areas we should look at so as to enhance our operations in the country.”

When asked what President Buhari said about IPOB secret service, Maj. Gen. Olonisakin said, “The issues of security, every security threat, all security threats were treated one after the other ranging from terrorism to kidnapping, herdsmen/farmers clash, to the IPOB issue. The president directed security agencies to ensure that the unity of the country is preserved.

“In his address to the nation, he talked about the unity of the nation which is non-negotiable. We have all been fully instructed to ensure that that directive is carried out to the letter.”

“We are going to enhance our operations in all the areas we need to do that. Like I said, he has given the necessary directives which will be carried out by the military and the security agencies.”

Explaining its “secret service”, IPOB said that the group was not set up as a standing army, but as a vigilante group to monitor and ensure the safety of its people returning from the north over the October 1 quit notice served on Igbo people in the north by a coalition of Arewa youth.