In a defiant move, members of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have staged a demonstration in Onitsha, threatening voters in the 18 November governorship election in Anambra State.
Their spokesmen said their demonstration was intended to notify the federal government that the group was alive.
“If you vote you will die. Don’t go out, stay in your house. If you vote on November 18, you will die. We are not running around for the zoo,” the members sang as they marched around the commercial town, abutting the River Niger on Friday.
“There will be no election. We will not participate, we will not vote. Nothing concerns us with any election. We are formidable.
“We are in Onitsha to tell the Federal Government to produce Kanu. They should release all the Biafrans in Nigerian prisons.”
Videos of the protest, according to icirnigeria.org, have since gone viral on the social media.
Emma Powerful, IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, told newsmen the group would not be deterred from achieving a Biafra Republic.
“Today in Onitsha, we broke the python Buratai, Ohanaeze, Obiano and Igbo governors brought to our land,” Powerful boasted.
“Anybody doubting the resolve of IPOB under the supreme command of Nnamdi Kanu is mistaken.
“We will put Anambra State on lockdown on November 18. This is a taste of what is to come. Nigeria should be prepared.”
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Nkeiruka Nwode, Public Relations Officer, Anambra State Police Command, said the IPOB march had no effect, insisting that the state police command had concluded arrangements for effective policing of the state during the election.
She asked residents of the state to go out en masse to exercise their franchise on the day of the election.
Also, Jimoh Moshood, the Force spokesperson, warned the IPOB members not to interfere with the election process in their own interest, adding that the police would deal with them “the way an outlawed group should be dealt with.”
“They (IPOB) should steer clear of Anambra because we have deployed enough personnel in the state; any miscreant who misbehaves would have himself to blame as he would be dealt with. IPOB should not test our will or resolve,” Moshood warned.
Speaking in like manner, Sagir Musa, spokesperson for the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, which covers the South-East region, said troops have been placed on alert to tackle any breakdown of law and order during the election.
“The troops are always on ground to prevent any breakdown of law and order during the election. As you know, the police are the first line of security and we cannot usurp their role,” Musa said.
“We have mastered the areas and we are familiar with the hideouts of the troublemakers.”
