The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has criticized the Nigerian military for announcing its Directorate of State Head, Chika Edoziem, as wanted, alongside other criminals and terrorists. The banned group denounced the inclusion of Edoziem in the same list as bandits and terrorists, considering it an affront to the IPOB global community.
In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, on Sunday, the group declared its refusal to be intimidated by any attempts at blackmail from the Federal Government in their pursuit of self-determination to restore the Biafran nation.
The statement emphasized that linking individuals like Simon Ekpa, Zuma, Temple, and others to their leader, Mazi Chika Edoziem, was a reckless act by the Nigerian military headquarters. IPOB clarified that it had distanced itself from all individuals mentioned in the wanted list, reaffirming its commitment to peace and non-violence.
IPOB described Edoziem as a calm and disciplined leader who has led the organization peacefully for over a decade, adhering to the United Nations’ principles regarding self-determination through a referendum. The group asserted that Edoziem had no association with any criminal activities or violence, both in Biafra land and abroad.
The statement criticized the Nigerian military’s decision to label Edoziem as wanted alongside violent terrorists and criminals, likening it to the government’s aggressive suppression tactics against Biafrans and the self-determination movement.
