Gist Arena

S outh East Governors Forum rose from it meeting on Friday to announce the proscription of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, in all the five states of the zone. The Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, announced this after a meeting of the governors with the South-east leadership of the National Assembly and Ohanaeze Ndigbo. According to him “In view of the prevailing security situation in the South-East and its attendant consequences, the South-East Governors hereby resolved as follows.” “All the activities of IPOB are hereby proscribed. IPOB and all other aggrieved groups are advised to articulate their position on National issues and submit to the committee of Governors, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and National Assembly members from the South-East zone through the Chairman of South-East Governors Forum”, he said details soon. The Nigerian military had earlier in the day declared the group a terror organisation.

T he Nigerian military has declared the pro-Biafra separatist group, IPOB, a “terrorist organisation.” The military made the declaration in a statement on Friday by the Director of Defence Information, John Enenche. Clashes between soldiers on a military operation and IPOB members in Abia State have left several people wounded. Although there have been reports of deaths particularly of IPOB members, none has been confirmed. IPOB and its leader, Nnamdi Kanu are campaigning for an independent country of Biafra made up of ethnic Igbos. Although they had said their campaign was non-violent, Mr. Kanu said this week that that stance would be reviewed, accusing the military of attacking unharmed members of his organisation. PREMIUM TIMES also reported how the police in Abia State blamed IPOB for the burning of a police station in Aba, where a dusk to dawn curfew has since been imposed. In his statement, Mr. Enenche, a major general, listed five reasons the military...