By Kelvin Agu
Threats by Northern group to deploy 5000 jihadists to the South east will be vehemently resisted, the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB has warned. The Nnamdi Kanu-led group alleged on Monday, plans by Miyetti Allah to raise the fighters to counter Ebubeagu, the recently established security oufit by south east governors.
The governors, two weeks ago established the outfit to combat the spate of insecurity in the region, even though many watchers of trends in the south east, insist that the action was taken by the governors to counter the Eastern Security Network, ESN and to save face after the IPOB’s own outfit is already making wave in the zone.
Despite the disagreement with the governors, IPOB said it would not stand aloof while Miyetti Allah is planning to send jihadists to invade the zone, according to Emma Powerful, IPOB’s spokesman, who said in a statement, that the jihadists will be stepping into the lion’s den.
Powerful also stated that IPOB’s already has a plan to send ESN operatives to the Northern part of the country to serve as a counterforce to threats posed by jihadists and Fulani herders to the interest of Igbo as a people.
According to the statement, IPOB is aware of: “threat by Miyetti Allah to deploy 5,000 jihadists in Biafra land to protect their cows and herders, following the creation of Ebubeagu security outfit by Southeast governors.
“We consider this utterance an insult to the entire Biafra and won’t tolerate it despite our grievances against the treacherous Southeast governors and the political elite.
“The Southeast governors must understand that the Federal Government sponsored Miyetti Allah to make this reckless utterance. The earlier they understand that IPOB is not their problem, the better. They should stop betraying us, but should appreciate our sacrifices in the defence of our ancestral land.
“The Miyetti Allah and their terrorists group should know that they shouldn’t play God for ever. They are trying to provoke ESN and IPOB to take a drastic action. IPOB and ESN are running out of patience with their insults. They should retrace their steps now. Let them come, we are waiting for them. Soon, they will see ESN in the North.”
IPOB said it will resist plot by jihadists to conquer the south east, adding that the zone would not be allowed to become a conquered territory, same way the Uthman dan fodio jihadists conquered the Hausa and took their lands.
The Kanu-led IPOB said “Fulani terrorists are thinking that Biafra land is easy to penetrate the way they penetrated Hausa land and conquered them in 1804. If Miyetti Allah and their sponsors in Aso Rock attempt to do in Biafra land what they did in Hausa land, they will regret their actions. ESN and IPOB are prepared for them.
“They can intimidate Southeast governors but they can’t intimidate IPOB and ESN. No inch of Biafra land will be relinquished to Fulani jihadists.
“If Miyetti Allah jihadists step into our land, they will be like abandoned bodies in the bushes and forests in our territory. Nigerians can melt before Miyetti Allah, but not IPOB and ESN. Miyetti Allah must not try IPOB and ESN because they cannot withstand our venom.
“We hereby declare an end to open grazing throughout Biafra territory. If we get any cow grazing openly on our farms again, both the cow and the murderous herder shall not live to tell their experience.”
Meanwhile, Miyetti Allah has refuted the allegations, noting that what is paramount to the group is the protection for northerners living in the south east and their belongings. The Northern group had earlier urged the governors to incorporate its members to Ebubeagu.
