IPOB dares military, heads to court over member declared wanted

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Sunday called on the Defence Headquarters to direct its energy to Finland based agitator, Simon Ekpa whom it said has been masterminding violence in the Southeast region.

IPOB was reacting to the declaration of its head of Directorate of State, Mr Chika Edoziem as wanted person.

Recall that the Defence Headquarters on Friday, declared Simon Ekpa, Chika Edoziem and 95 others wanted.

The wanted individuals include terrorists and those suspected to have orchestrated violent crimes in Nigeria.

Major General Edward Buba, the Director, Defence Media Operations released the names and pictures of the suspects.

The names and pictures contained terrorists from the North East and North West as well as separatist agitators in the South-East and North Central.

A total of 43 persons were declared wanted in North West Zone ravaged by banditry, among which are: Alhaji Shingi; Malindi Yakubu; Boka ; Dogo Gide; Halilu Sububu; Ado Aliero ; Bello Turji; Dan Bokkolo; Labi Yadi ; Nagala; Saidu Idris; Kachalla Rugga and Sani Gurgu.

In the North East under the vicious control of Boko Haram and Islamic State for West Africa Province terrorists, 33 persons were declared wanted.

Some of them are Abu Zaida; Modu Sulum; Baba Data; Ahmad; Sani Teacher; Baa Sadiq; Abdul Saad; Kaka Abi; Mohammad Khalifa; Umar Tella; Abu Mutahid; Mallam Mohammad; Mallam Tahiru Baga; Uzaiya and Ali Ngule. Continue Reading…

Also, a total of 21 Insurgents and violent criminals were declared wanted in the southeast and North Central Area.

They are Simon Ekpa; Chika Edoziem; Egede; Zuma ; ThankGod; Gentle; Flavour ; Mathew; David Ndubuisi ; High Chief Williams Agbor; Ebuka Nwaka; Friday Ojimka; Obiemesi Chukwudi aka Dan Chuk ; David Ezekwem Chidiebube and Amobi Chinonso Okafor aka Temple among others.

But in his response to the declaration, former legal counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor in a statement, said he would proceed to court to challenge the legality or otherwise of the declaration.

He said, “I have been inundated with calls and messages from well meaning Biafrans and individuals, expressing their concerns following the purported declaration of Mazi Chika Edoziem, the Head of the Directorate of State of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), as a wanted person by the Nigerian Defence Headquarters.

“The Indigenous People of Biafra which I am its Lead Counsel, has remained a peaceful global movement, recognised and registered in several countries across the globe; exercising their legitimate rights to self determination which is a right guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution and other international laws and statutes.

“Nigerian security agencies are not under any form of illusion about the identity of the chief mastermind of the heinous criminal activities in our land and their foot soldiers. IPOB and my humble self spent months and years shouting on top of our voices vide various publications on the devastating activities of these criminals on our land, and the deliberate attribution of their heinous criminal activities to IPOB.

“The reason for this deliberate attribution of the criminal, murderous and evil activities of Simon Ekpa’s led criminal gangs to the IPOB peaceful global movement, is the consequences of today’s declaration.

“Those who are in a position to continue making this clarification and denouncing the monstrous activities of Ekpa and his gangs, by also distancing them from peaceful activities of IPOB, but deliberately chose to shirk this compelling responsibility for reasons best known to them, are now faced with the terrible consequences of their secret romance with Ekpa.

“I wish to assure all Ezigbo Umuchineke and Biafrans that there is absolutely no cause for alarm. I believe in the rule of law, and be assured that the legality or otherwise of this misguided pronouncement shall be tested in a law court, because I see no justification whatsoever for such pronouncement as it concerns Mazi Chika Edoziem.

“I urge all Ezigbo Umuchineke to remain peaceful and law abiding as they have always been. Justice must certainly prevail in the end”. Continue Reading…