By Pamela Eboh Awka

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Sunday said that youths across Biafraland will commence the process of cleaning and securing their towns and cities from hoodlums and criminal elements following the killings, destruction and burning of private properties by hoodlums under the guise of EndSARS protest.

The group said the exercise “will afford young people in Benin, Enugu, Aba, Abakaliki, Umuahia, Nnewi, Uyo, Calabar, Onitsha and Igweocha the long awaited opportunity to tidy up and clear the numerous mountains of rubbish in their cities,” saying that it has become not only an eyesore but also a health hazard.

IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, in a statement to journalists in Awka, the Anambra State capital, said that peaceful protests will commence after the clean-up is completed but will only be confined to designated locations.

The group stressed that there will be no procession or street march, adding that measures are being put in place to protect the lives and properties of innocent citizens from being attacked by rented hoodlums and political thugs.

IPOB insisted that where necessary, assets acquired with looted public funds by corrupt politicians would remain a legitimate target.

The statement reads in part: “Peaceful protests will commence after the clean-up but will only be confined to designated locations, there will be no procession or street march.

“It is important to note that anybody found attacking or engaging in arson or wanton destruction of private property will be dealt with on the spot.

“Marching on the streets will not be tolerated as not to give room to mischief makers to breach public peace. We are hereby issuing a warning that any hoodlum or rented thug found at the venue of any protest will be mercilessly dealt with by the people.

“We urge them to steer clear or better join us in the clean-up and peaceful gathering afterwards.

“Anybody found wandering near a bank or loitering with intent will be moved on. People will not be allowed to congregate near a bank or financial institution. No act capable of breaching the peace will be tolerated from Monday the 26th of October 2020 onwards. Protests and gatherings will be held but it must be peaceful and orderly. No criminality of any form will be condoned, either from hoodlums, hired thugs, the police or the army. Everybody must be well behaved.

“It is our hope that protests across Biafraland and Nigeria must continue until all demands made by the leaders of #EndSars movement are met in quick time.

“We urge all youths who have been intimidated into submission by security agencies, especially in Abuja, to return to the streets from tomorrow, October 26. We warn every thug belonging to criminal politicians and DSS to steer clear of protest venues or there will be a repeat of last week's mayhem.”

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