The Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) says the second civil war has began in the country.
The secessionist movement stated this in a Friday statement by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful. The group was reacting to ongoing military operations in Orlu senatorial district and its environs in Imo State.
The operations which began at the request of the state governor, Hope Uzodinma, is still ongoing and aimed at flushing out the militia arm of IPOB, named Eastern Security Network (ESN), which clashed with the military last month and reportedly gunned down some force personnel.
“We wish to bring to the attention of the whole world, that the Nigeria military has at last, brought war to Biafra land,” IPOB said.
“Supported by other security agencies including police and the Department of State Services, DSS, they came with military jets, tanks, and heavy war equipment against us.
“Yes, the second Nigeria/Biafra war has begun! It begun on Thursday, February 18, 2021, at Orlu in Imo State, Biafra land.
“The Nigeria military has simultaneously launched both land and air attacks on us. After the genocidal war of 1967-1970 in which they killed over 5 million innocent Biafrans, they have come again to bomb Biafrans under the pretext that they are hunting the gallant personnel of Eastern Security Network ESN guarding our forests against killer herdsmen and terrorists on rampage in our land.
“Days before the raid, they first abducted a synagogue priest, Mazi Egole and his house hold, branding them IPOB members. Then on February 16, they abducted Mrs NGOZI UMEADI who they learnt took care of those injured during the #EndSARS protest.
“Not done yet, they took Dr. Stephen Irochi of Multicare Hospital and some injured #EndSARS protesters from Obigbo receiving treatment at the hospital.
“The government which could not defend Biafrans against incessant unprovoked attacks against indigenous Nigerians has now mobilised its land and airforce against ESN patriotically and voluntarily doing the job that Nigeria security forces wickedly refused to do. The crime of ESN is defending locals against Fulani herdsmen.
“Orlu and its environs are now a theatre of war declared by the Nigeria Government against innocent Biafrans. Scores of innocent civilians have already fallen casualty! Orlu and its neighbouring Orsu LGAs have been under heavy bombardment by the Nigeria Airforce since February 18, 2021.
“We have no choice but to defend our ancestral land. We have complained enough, written petitions but the world turned blind eyes.
“The media refused to give us audience. Nobody seems interested in our story but like the Jews we must look unto our God and courageously fight back like heroes. In the end Biafra will come!
“Regrettably, this genocidal war against Biafrans has the endorsement of Hope Uzodima who the Fulani Janjaweed Government is using in its futile desperation to actualise its Fulanisation agenda. But he, his likes, and their slavemasters will pay heavily for this!
“The world must hold Hope Uzodima and the Buhari-led Fulani-controlled federal government of Nigeria responsible for the ongoing genocidal war in Orlu and Orsu.
”The same hypocritical Nigeria military which could not trace or locate heavily-armed bandits and Fulani terrorists in the forests of Zamfara and other Northern States is now bombing ESN, a mere vigilante group.
“Miyetti Allah announced its nation wide security outfit and nobody bombed them till today. Amotekun was formed in the West and the tanks were not rolled out against them.
“But now that Biafrans have announced our own vigilante group – ESN to protect our people against terrorists kidnapping, raping, and slaughtering our people in our own ancestral land, all hell is let lose.
“But we promise disgrace to our enemies.
“They SHALL be shamefully defeated. The WAR has begun! We shall defend Biafra and we shall triumph!
“No inch of Biafra land will be taken by the Invaders. We have vowed never to relinquish any inch of Biafra ancestral land to Fulani herdsmen from Sahel. God of the Jews shall defend us against the enemies. This war will be different from the 1967 genocide!
“May we, therefore, remind Biafrans all over the world that that decisive moment has come when they must stand to be counted. We need to rise as one people no matter the tongue or ethnicity for we have a common destiny. We have all been marked for decimation but we must resist them.
“Nobody should erroneously think he is exempted from the wicked plots of our enemies. Even our treacherous political elite should know that the Fulani will not spare them after using them against their own people.
“Our people in the Nigeria military and other security agencies should also know that the enemies will reward them with death after using them to fight their kith and kin. We must stand united and fight for our children! Now is the time!” the statement partly read.
