The prescribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has threatened to retaliate against any attack whatsoever unleashed on members of the Igbo ethnic group during the forthcoming general elections.
Peter Obi, an Igbo native from Anambra state is one of the major contenders in the presidential election slated for February 25.
IPOB in a statement by its media and publicity secretary, Emma Powerful on Wednesday, warned that any attack whatsoever unleashed on Nigerians of Igbo extraction during elections slated for February 25 and March 11 would be reciprocated.
The outlawed group made the threat in reaction to an audio tape being circulated on social media in which an alleged traditional ruler in a Lagos community threatened that anybody that votes against his party will not be allowed to do business.
The statement partly read, “The attention of IPOB under the leadership of our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been drawn to a threat from a monarch in Yoruba Land to the effect that they will deal with non-indigenes who don’t vote in the upcoming elections according to the wish of the monarch.
“While we Biafrans await a date for a referendum, nobody should threaten Ndigbo and Biafrans residing temporarily in other parts of Nigeria for any reason.
“IPOB want to state unequivocally that any attack in any part of Nigeria on the Igbo people or their properties on account of the choice of individuals to participate and vote according to their conviction during this election will be met with adequate and commensurate action.”
It said further, “We urge men and women of good conscience in the North and West to caution their traditional rulers and politicians who want to use Ndigbo and Biafrans as scapegoats in this election process to be very careful and retrace their steps.”
The statement added, “Any Biafran who wants to vote in these elections has the right to vote for any party or candidate of his/her choice, and nobody should direct or threaten them to vote a particular party in their community or state.”
