By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has reiterated its position on the April 2022 ban on movement of Fulani cows and its consumption in Biafra land as sacrosanct.

IPOB in a statement on Monday by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful said: “We want to correct the misinformation and misconceptions surrounding our position on the issue which our enemies are peddling to blackmail us.

“In the first place, the decision was taken as a last resort after many years of patience over the unprovoked genocidal attacks by Fulani herdsmen on our communities, and the failure of the double-faced Nigeria security agencies to rein in the rampaging Fulani mass murderers.

“We have waited enough and can no longer tolerate the docility and criminal silence of the federal government in protecting our communities against these agents of death.

“Since their cows have been the reason the Fulani jihadists are slaughtering our people, destroying our farms, raping our women and kidnapping our men for ransom, we have decided to stop consuming these cursed Fulani cows which have now become a source of sorrow and death. It’s better we are alive and eat no Fulani cows than desire to eat them and be killed.”

The group noted that before arriving at what it described as an irreversible decision, it made several appeals to the federal government and the security agencies to stop the Fulani from their atrocities in the land, saying that they looked the other way, leaving the hapless communities at the mercy of the messengers of death.

While saying that its patience has been over stretched beyond its elasticity point, IPOB added: “We can no longer afford to fold our arms and be waiting for the last man in Biafra land to be killed by Fulani jihadists masquerading as herdsmen.

“Our people waste huge sums of money up to three Billion Naira every year on cows meat and we won’t allow that to continue and encouraging those who has the money to start breeding our local cows (Efi Igbo) and other farming, IPOB will support them to boost the farming and animal husbandry business.

“So, our decision to ban the movement, sale and consumption of Fulani cows throughout Biafra land with effect from April of this year is not borne out of hate but we are safeguarding our land and our people from the evil agenda of Fulani. Our decision is born out of the natural desire to preserve our race from being wiped out by the Fulani terrorist herdsmen.

“If you are a Biafran dealing on Fulani cows in Biafraland, it’s better you look for an alternative now because we won’t spear any inch regarding Fulani terrorists herdsmen cows after April this year, don’t say we don't warn you. A word is enough for the wise.”

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