Ijaw Group Denies Plan To Attack IPOB, Ndigbo, Says They Are Partners In Struggle

By Ayodele Oni

The Ijaw National Congress, (INC), an umbrella body of Ijaw speaking people from the south, has distanced its members from an alleged attack of Ndigbo and members of Independent People of Biafra, (IPOB).

President of INC, Prof Benjamin Okaba in a statement on Monday, explained that the Ijaw Group, as one of those agitating for better living condition for the people of the southern part of the country, will not contemplate or launch attack on any other bodies.

The state by the INC leader states “The use of violence against our neighboring ethnic groups, totally contravenes the ideals of the Ijaw Struggle.

“Therefore, Militia groups brandishing Ijaw symbolism for selfish atrocious economic adventures, particularly against our Igbo neighbors and other ethnic nationalities, are on their own and are acting at their own peril. The Ijaw Nation disassociate itself from such actions and people.

“Due to the very sensitive nature of the issue at stake, the leadership of Ijaw National Congress shall immediately carry out further investigations on the alleged attacks by Izon militia group against Igbos and deploy appropriate measures that would prevent the ensuring misgivings from deteriorating into unwarranted and avoidable crises.

“We wish to strongly appeal to all Ijaw freedom fighters and Youths in general to demonstrate total commitment to the ideals of the Ijaw Agenda for Freedom, as enunciated by the founding fathers of the Struggle and apply due diligence in their individual and collective activities.”

 Spokesman of the IPOB, Emma Powerful had been quoted as alleging that a criminal gang headed by an Izon Warlord, who has continued to show unrepentant hatred for the Ndigbo and Biafra agitation championed by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB members worldwide is busy recruiting Izon boys and killing innocent Biafrans in Imo, Abia and Eboyin States in the name of chasing IPOB and Nnamdi Kanu.

The IPOB Spokesman is also quoted as inferring that, but for the respect they have for the age-long cordial relationship that have existed between the Izon and the Igbo, they would have retaliated.  That they are almost running out of patience, hence the call for caution.

The INC stated that it “regard these allegations as weighty and call for serious concern because the Ijaw Nation, the Igbo people and several other ethnic nationalities in the South and Middle-belt in Nigeria have on different fronts jointly confronted common issues bordering on criminal neglect, oppression, environmental degradation, exploitation, insecurity, injustice and other forms of deprivation and hardship suffered in the hands of insensitive leadership in the Nigerian hegemonic state.

“The Ijaws and Igbos are all victims of systematic insensitivity to the plight of the minorities.

“It is on record that Ijaw agitators are known for the promotion and defence of the Ijaw cause for self-determination, Resource justice, Equity, fairness to all; and the demand for full implementation of principles of the Federalism and not attack on other ethnic nationalities of Nigeria.

“In fact, one of the salient resolutions of the KAIAMA DECLARATION of Ijaw Youths including the agitators which has guided their struggles over the years is the resolution to extend hands of friendship and support other ethnic nationalities’ peaceful, genuine quest and struggle for freedom and self-actualization.

“The Ijaw National Congress at its All Ijaw Summit held in 2021 did, in unequivocal terms, resolved to pursue the noble cause of Self-determination, through non-violence, civil engagement strategy and solidarize with other entities that share similar aspirations.

“Therefore, it will be preposterous to even imagine that Ijaw people of whatsoever background could align, associate itself, encourage or endorse the attacks on other ethnic nationalities in whatever guise and be for whatever reasons.

“The use of violence against our neighboring ethnic groups, totally contravenes the ideals of the Ijaw Struggle.”