Protesters storm US Embassy in Lagos, insist IPOB is terror organisation

Protesters under the aegis of Coalition for the Defense of Nigeria Sovereignty (CDNS) on Friday in Lagos stormed the Embassy of United States (US), expressing disagreement over the declaration by the US government that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is not a terrorist organisation.

It would be recalled that the Nigerian Military had proscribed the organisation on account that it is a terrorist body, a decision which has been ratified by an order of the court.

The protesters, who carried placards with inscriptions such as: “Americans! Stay Away from issues bordering on our sovereignty as a nation,” “We are indivisible in Nigeria, US beware,” “US! US! Stop ‎your provocative support for IPOB,” “US, if you are not in support of the fight against terrorism in Nigeria, don’t be against it,” said the position of the US that IPOB was not a terrorist organization was “abhorrent and highly condemnable.”

According to them, this was in the light of the psychological and emotional trauma that this terrorist group has caused the nation collectively as a people.

Addressing newsmen during the protest, National President/Convener‎ of the coalition, Otunba Bolaji Alabi, while maintaining that the activities of IPOB separatist movement were those that attracted jail terms in the United States, however, said Nigerians, including the Yoruba, had resolved for one united Nigeria.

Alabi alleged that before it was proscribed, the IPBO had also been attempting to recruit and radicalise Yoruba youths to create a version of the terror group in the South-West zone of the country oblivious to the nationalistic spirit and staunch belief in the unity of Nigeria.

According to him, it was these brainwashed youths that had unsuccessfully attempted to making demands for the unpopular Oodu’a Republic, saying that the culture of hate speech being promoted by IPOB among these youths was alien as Yoruba people were taught to be respectful and considerate of other human beings.

He said, “IPOB has also been attempting to recruit and radicalise Yoruba youths to create a version of the terror group in the south-west of Nigeria oblivious to our nationalistic spirit and staunch belief in the unity of Nigeria.

“It was these brainwashed youths that had unsuccessfully attempted making demands for Oodu’a Republic, which does not enjoy any backing among us. The culture of hate speech being promoted by IPOB, which it is teaching these youths is alien to us as we are taught to be respectful and considerate of other humans.

“We wonder what would be the fate of anyone that repeatedly incite others to violence through the promotion of hate speech and go the extra mile to actualise the threats as we witnessed in Rivers State when IPOB terrorists were stopping commercial buses and singling out non-Igbo passengers, including Yoruba, for attacks,” he said.

Speaking further, Alabi said every recent activity of members of IPOB led by Nnamdi Kanu would lead to jail terms in the US, charging US government should desist from making decisions from the comfort of its echo chambers where it only heard itself without the benefit of appreciating what the end recipients of the situation under consideration went through.

“Even in the US, every single thing that members of this terrorist group have done in recent weeks will lead to jail terms.

“The United States should desist from making decisions from the comfort of its echo chambers, in which it only hears itself without the benefit of appreciating what the end recipients of the situation under consideration go through,” he said.

The coalition lauded the proscription of IPOB as a terrorist group even as it called on the US to have a rethink and denounce IPOB.

“Our thoughts are that the United States corrects its mistake within a reasonable time so that IPOB would not use its position as an excuse to spread its violence and hatred to other parts of the world. We are closely monitoring to see how soon the US would do the right thing by distancing itself from a terror organisation that has the Yoruba in its crosshairs,” Alabi said.