Federal Government says the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, instigated the killing of 60 persons and the destruction of property in 55 attacks across the South East and South South in four months.
The government said this in a letter to western diplomats, according to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The letter, the agency said, was dated April 26, 2021 and contains details of the atrocities committed by members of IPOB on the alleged instruction of Kanu who was at that time in exile.
NAN also reports that one of the attachments to the letter listed the attacks on lives and property by IPOB in some parts of the country between January and April 2021.
“In under four months this year, IPOB has carried out over fifty-five (55) violent acts in various parts of Southeast Nigeria, killing scores of people and destroying many properties,” NAN quoted the letter as having stated.
“Indeed it would seem that the position of the (western nation) seems to have further emboldened Nnamdi Kanu, the self-confessed leader of IPOB.
“As recently as 22nd April, 2021, broadcasting online from his base in London, Mr Kanu issued a series of instructions to his militia and other members of the outlawed organisation, on acts of violence to be carried out within the territory of Nigeria,” the Federal Government stated in the letter.
The letter also made references to some of the threats issued by Kanu to include: “Our madness has just begun. Every night, young men will not sleep, you will come out, at the start of every road that leads to every populated area under human habitation to make sure that appropriate road blocks are put in place to slow them down so we can catch them (Fulanis) and kill them.
“That is what we want you to do. Obiano (Governor of Anambra State) from today onwards, anywhere you are seen in public you will be attacked …. Obiano, … you are a dead man walking.
“Any landlord that gives accommodation or rents his house or her house to a Fulani person, to an army personnel, to somebody who works for the police or DSS … Kill them. If you see the army and the police in your place, kill all of them… Kill them.
“From today I am announcing, there will be no election in Anambra State. Every edifice of election in Anambra State will be destroyed. I am warning you in advance. There will be no election. There will be no campaign in Anambra State.
“Any vehicle you see, from tonight (22nd April 2021), 12 midnight to 5, destroy it completely. That is the time they (referring to Fulanis) move about abducting people. And we keep quiet. … What stops you young people from, once you see them coming around 4am in the morning, you will block all every exit, set it on fire?”
“They will exhaust all the ammunition that they have, then we capture them alive and cut off their heads. All of them. Decapitate them.”
The Federal Government said Kanu issued instructions from western capitals using Radio Biafra to members of IPOB, which intensified their attacks on the specified targets.
“For example, a day after Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State confirmed to newsmen that Nnamdi Kanu ordered members of the group to kill him and other South-East Governors, which orders were repeated on Radio Biafra, the private residence of Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, in his hometown in Omuma, Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State, was attacked and set ablaze and two of the security men attached to the house were killed,” the government said.
