The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has warned IPOB members and members of public in the South-East zone of Nigeria against enforcement and observing of what he described as unsanctioned sit-at-home.
Kanu, who gave the warning on Monday when his legal team led by Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) visited him in the Department of State Services (DSS) custody in Abuja, said that anyone who obeys or enforces any sit-at-home not officially declared by IPOB leadership must be ready to face dire consequences.
Kanu’s warning was disclosed in a statement by his counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who while giving update on the legal team’s routine visit to the detained IPOB leader, stated that he (Kanu) condemned in strongest terms, the kidnappings, killings and attacks going on the South-East region of the country.
According to Ejiofor, Kanu condemned the “destructive activities of some hired marauders who are presently exploiting the temporary absence of Onyendu to cause untold mayhem, vandalism and calamity on our sacred ancestral lands were thoroughly discussed.
“Onyendu reiterated and emphasized his long-held position of distancing himself and his IPOB movement from the illegal and nefarious activities of these God-forsaken elements who mean no well for the Ndigbo and Alaigbo.”
Kanu specifically warned that “That any person who obeys or enforces any unsanctioned sit-at-home instructions which are being declared and imposed by some criminal elements who have been paid huge sums of money by some faceless persons to blackmail and consequently destroy him and his IPOB movement should count himself or herself as the Number 1 enemy of Onyendu and our peace-loving people; and consequently, such persons must be aware of the grave and dire consequences that lie ahead them for such criminal acts.
“Onyendu unequivocally stated that he has not ordered any SIT-AT-HOME in Biafra land. He directs that all our people should go about their normal life and businesses without let or hindrance, so as not to destroy the socio-economic life of our people, which have become the envy of all.”
The IPOB leader also specifically directed “That in our quest for and prosecution of our people’s God-given right to self-determination, our people cannot themselves be seen as those trampling upon the fundamental rights of other people to exercise their own freedoms and fundamental rights.
“That our people SHALL vehemently resist, and MUST NOT ALLOW any form of criminality to overshadow or becloud their legitimate and internationally-sanctioned aspiration for a peaceful Nation of their own, devoid of any forms of violence and intimidation.
“Onyendu reiterated that our people should act with the greatest circumspection, particularly now that the international conspiracy in the ongoing blackmail has assumed a new dimension of dangerous proportions being perpetrated and orchestrated by those clearly acting the script of their paymasters. These are the evil elements relentlessly dishing out brazen threats, blatant lies and bare-faced falsehood to our people.
“These are the same persons that recruit, control and command criminal elements who have been imported into our land to kidnap, maim, kill and commit all sorts of atrocities with a view to justifying government’s continued illegal and unconstitutional detention of Onyendu, and thus provide government’s much needed alibi, platform and simulated justification for the international community to recognise the illegal and criminal proscription of the otherwise peace-loving IPOB, which is currently on appeal.
“That it will be foolhardy of our people not to decipher, see through and recognize the dangerous prevailing international conspiracy to blackmail his peaceful IPOB movement and portray UmuChineke in bad light as vicious and murderous kidnappers and armed killers; whereas they are not, have never been and will never be.
“That the criminal elements who have been imported into our land to desecrate same should know that kidnapping is a criminal offence of grievous nature for which the Holy Bible sanctions the execution of the perpetrators.
“Onyendu maintains that Kidnapping is evil and alien to our culture and psyche as a people of God.
“That anyone who is involved in any form of criminality under the thin guise of freedom-fighting is an enemy of our peace-loving and hardworking people, and also of Onyendu too.
“That UmuChineke should know that our people are surrounded by many enemies and as such, must be circumspect about their actions and utterances before the world, so as not to fall prey into their booby traps and already dug pits.
“That the world is watching with keen interest, even as those fully funded by the enemies, and who do not want Onyendu to be freed are desperately exploring all avenues to carry out their evil and nefarious activities so as to later turn around to blame and hang these on Onyendu and his peaceful IPOB movement.
“More importantly, that discerning minds should understand that the reason why the Federal Government of Nigeria has refused to obey the Court of Appeal order which directed his unconditional release, non further prosecution and even refused to take any steps towards prosecuting their appeal before the Supreme Court, by failing to file relevant court processes before the court, is because they are relentlessly scouting around for possible items and loopholes to blackmail him, his IPOB movement and our people.
“Our people should never give or dignify them with such ignoble and inglorious opportunity. This is why our people must reject, denounce and fight to a standstill, all forms of criminality in our land which are being perpetrated by the enemies of our people. These are those who are fully engaged in maiming, killing and kidnapping our innocent sons and daughters so as to mask them as IPOB-engineered atrocities. Enough is Enough Please.”
