The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has issued a grave advisory to Igbos residing in Northern Nigeria, urging them to immediately return to the South-East in light of growing fears of retaliatory violence following the killing of individuals identified as Hausa hunters in Edo State.
In a statement released on Saturday by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, the pro-Biafran group warned that credible intelligence points to imminent threats targeting the lives and property of Igbos in the North.
“Throughout history, violence in Northern Nigeria has often been directed at Igbos for events they had no part in,” the statement read. “What we are seeing again is a disturbing pattern. Only a tree sees the axe coming and still remains rooted.”
Referencing historical attacks such as the 1966 pogroms that claimed thousands of Igbo lives, IPOB emphasized that such tragic episodes must not be allowed to recur. “We urge our people not to become victims again,” the group stated. “If you can’t leave with your properties, at least send your family members back home to Alaigbo.”
The group also accused the Nigerian security apparatus of turning a blind eye to looming threats, particularly from Northern groups. IPOB specifically named two Fulani police officers, Hadaina Hussaini Taki and Isyaku Shehu Gano, as alleged instigators of violence against Southerners and called on the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate and arrest them.
“If the DSS fails to act, it confirms the bias and complicity of Nigerian security agencies in the protection of violent groups in the North,” the statement alleged. “It is clear that Northerners, particularly Fulani, enjoy a disturbing level of immunity, while Southerners are criminalized for far less.”
While asserting that the warning is not a call to violence, IPOB maintained that it is a proactive self-defense measure. The group noted that recent remarks by security chiefs have subtly acknowledged the limitations of state protection, suggesting that citizens may need to take responsibility for their own safety.
“We are not begging them not to attack,” the group said defiantly. “Try it, and see the response. No one has a monopoly on violence.”
IPOB concluded its statement by reaffirming its commitment to the safety and development of the South-East. It encouraged Igbos to return and contribute to the region’s growth rather than remain vulnerable in what it described as “hostile environments.”
The group also said the Eastern Security Network (ESN) stands ready to provide support to those who return home.
As tensions rise, observers warn that the Federal Government and security agencies must act swiftly to prevent a dangerous escalation and avert a possible ethno-regional crisis.
