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IPOB Questions How 2017 Peace Meeting With Kanu Led To Its Proscription As Terrorist Organisation Two Weeks Later
IPOB Questions How 2017 Peace Meeting With Kanu Led To Its Proscription As Terrorist Organisation Two Weeks Later
NEWS
The Nigerian Record
9/23/20263 min read
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has challenged the Nigerian government to explain what happened between its August 30, 2017 peace meeting with its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, and the September 14, 2017 military invasion of Kanu's home in Afaraukwu, Umuahia, Abia State, which the group described as a turning point that ultimately led to its proscription and designation as a terrorist organisation.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB questioned how its engagement with the South-East governors on August 30, 2017, could have transformed into a military confrontation and proscription barely two weeks later.
IPOB recalled that the governors, led by then Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi, met with its leader Kanu and other IPOB representatives in Enugu on August 30, 2017, in what it said Umahi described publicly as a "peace talk."
According to IPOB, Kanu used the meeting to demand economic development, infrastructure, employment opportunities, justice and respect for the rule of law rather than violence.
The group said the demands included the reopening and revitalisation of the seaports in Port Harcourt, Calabar and Warri, dredging of the River Niger, direct international flights into Enugu, Port Harcourt and Calabar, completion of the Second Niger Bridge, upgrading of Owerri Airport into a cargo airport, functional railways, reliable electricity and primary healthcare.
IPOB also said Kanu demanded the revival of abandoned industries to create jobs for young people and graduates in the South-East.
"He also demanded respect for court orders, the release of detainees including Sambo Dasuki and Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, and investigations into killings of IPOB members and supporters," Powerful stated.
IPOB said the situation changed dramatically on September 14, 2017, when soldiers invaded Kanu's residence at Afaraukwu, Umuahia, Abia State.
"The military went there to kill him. It failed. Onyendu survived," Powerful alleged.
IPOB questioned what specific terrorist activity occurred between the August 30 peace meeting and the September 15 proscription of IPOB by the former President Muhammadu Buhari and South-East governors.
On September 15, 2017, the governors announced the proscription of IPOB activities in the South-East region following escalating tensions and clashes involving security forces and IPOB supporters.
In their resolution, they also called on the Nigerian government to withdraw troops from the South-East and urged IPOB and other aggrieved groups to submit their grievances for consideration.
The governors also reaffirmed their commitment to restructuring Nigeria and resolving national issues through dialogue.
IPOB said the sequence of events raised questions about the basis for the government's subsequent classification of the organisation as a terrorist group.
"Where, exactly, was the terrorism?" Powerful asked. "Where was the terrorism between the peace meeting of 30 August and the proscription of IPOB on 15 September? What terrorist activity by IPOB happened in-between?"
The group further questioned how demands for seaports, airports, railways, electricity, industrialisation, employment and healthcare could have been interpreted as terrorism.
IPOB also referred to the military's September 15, 2017 announcement categorising the organisation as a terrorist group.
At the time, the military cited allegations including the formation of the Biafra National Guard, blocking public roads, extortion at illegal roadblocks and possession or use of weapons during an encounter with soldiers.
IPOB denied the allegations and maintained that it was a non-violent movement.
IPOB also recalled comments by then Senate President Bukola Saraki on September 18, 2017, when he questioned the legality of both the governors' proscription and the military's categorisation of IPOB as a terrorist organisation.
The group recalled that Saraki said the actions were unconstitutional and had not followed due process.
The legal status of IPOB subsequently changed through a Federal High Court order, but on September 20, 2017, the Federal High Court in Abuja granted an ex-parte application by the Attorney-General of the Federation and proscribed IPOB, declaring its activities illegal and constituting acts of terrorism.
The order was subsequently published in the Nigerian government Gazette.
But IPOB challenged the order and asked the court to set it aside, arguing, among other things, that it had not been given an opportunity to be heard.
The court eventually upheld the September 20, 2017 proscription in January 2018, dismissing IPOB's application to reverse the order.
However, IPOB said the events leading to the proscription should be examined chronologically.
"Examine the peace meeting. Examine Onyendu's demands. Examine the military invasion of his home. Examine the 15 September proscription. Examine Saraki's 18 September constitutional objection. Examine the subsequent court proceedings," Powerful stated.
IPOB said it was not asking the international community to accept its claims without scrutiny but wanted the events of August and September 2017 examined against the available record.
"Then answer the question: where was the terrorism between August and September 2017?" Powerful stated. "The world deserves an answer. Show us the evidence."