The
Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Tuesday issued a 72-hour ultimatum to
President Muhammadu Buhari led federal government over the alleged abduction of
76 indigenes of Enugu State by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
Although earlier
reports had indicated that the Awgu natives were arrested by soldiers from Abia
State, military authorities have since maintained that such persons were not
Nigerian soldiers.
The villagers had
issues with Fulani herdsmen before the reported of the 76 young men.
There are also reports
that they are currently being held at a military facility in Abia State.
Consequently, in a
statement signed by Bar. Emma Mmezu and Dr Clifford C. Iroanya, IPOB
spokespersons, they warned that failure to release the Enugu indigenes
unconditionally would attract “fire for fire”.
The statement read in
parts:
“The raw show of power
and bravado by Fulani herdsmen at Umuneshi, Awgu Community of Enugu State just
cannot be accepted by any civilized society.
“First, the ever
recalcitrant Fulani marauders abducted two women on their way to the farm. All
entreaties to release the two women fell on deaf ears. The youth of the
community mobilized to free their women, but the Fulani warriors informed their
kinsmen at the military bases in the neigbouring Abia State.
“The soldiers stormed
the community, beat up and arrested all 76 youths, bundled them to zone 9,
ordered them charged and remanded in prison without as much as allowing them to
make statements.
“As at today the 76
youth remain locked up, the two women remain missing as Fulani supremacy reigns
supreme.
“The brutal show of
power and arrogant display of ‘we own Nigeria’ demonstrated by the Fulani is
not only nauseating but despicable.
“When you add this to
the brazen arrogance of display of Fulani republic flags in Ohafia, Abia State,
and the provocative flying of Fulani flags in Agatu Benue State, Eket, Akwa
Ibom, and many other places, the IPOB is convinced that the battle of total
annihilation has been brought to our door steps by the avowed enemies of peace.
“Accordingly, the IPOB
is hereby giving President Muhammadu Buhari 72 hours beginning from 6pm,
Tuesday 29th March 2016, to release the 76 youths of Umeneshi Community, Awgu,
together with the two women earlier abducted by the Fulani fighters.
“The Fulani flags
flying over our ancestral land must also be removed within the same period
failure of which the world will witness the first true feel of the anger of
IPOB world wide. The era of consistently begging a mindless but determined
enemy has suddenly come to an end. It is fire for fire. It is our generational
duty to defend our honour as a people or be damned forever.”
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