By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has raised alarm over the profiling and abduction of some Igbo citizens who are either travelling or coming back from Lagos and Abuja International Airports in Nigeria.

IPOB stated that arresting Biafran passengers whether they are for or against Biafra, is not only wicked but unlawful too.

The group, in a statement on Wednesday by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said that those illegally arrested at the mentioned airports were not allowed to speak to their families and lawyers, noting that they were also detained incommunicado in different security detentions and facilities across Lagos and Abuja.

The statement partly reads: “Many of the Biafran passengers that the security operatives abducted at the airports were detained, extra-judicially murdered or starved to death.

“The Nigeria Government and its compromised security agencies, especially the DSS and Immigration headed by Fulanis at the International Airports, have embarked on illegal profiling and abductions of some Biafrans purported to be family members of or supporters of IPOB movement.

“Nigerian Security Agents at the Airport have taken it as a duty to humiliate Biafrans who are departing or arriving at these International Airports because of the agitation for Biafra Referendum project.

“Any Biafran passenger who is unfortunate to have a Biafra related content in his or her phone, even without Biafra contents in his or her phone, will be arrested and incarcerated by the Fulani-controlled security personnel at the Airport.”

The group wondered how an entire ethnic group would be discriminated and stereotyped against by Nigeria State because they want to exit from a terrorists-infested country.

It added: “Every Biafran is an Indigenous Person of Biafra but not all Biafrans are IPOB family member. IPOB agitation for the Independent State of Biafra is legal and supported by International and Nigeria laws. Arresting Biafran passengers whether they are for or against Biafra, is not only wicked but unlawful too.

“Those illegally arrested at these Airports were not allowed to speak to their families and lawyers. They were also detained incommunicado in different security detentions facilities

across Lagos and Abuja. Many of the Biafran passengers that the security operatives abducted at the airports were detained, extra-judicially murdered or starved to death.

“Therefore, if this indiscriminate harassment continues, IPOB will have no other option than to ask the people being harassed to resist this unjust profiling and discriminatory policy and action of the Nigerian government security agencies at these airports. It's quite appalling that out of many passengers at the airport, only Biafrans, especially the Igbos, are profiled and made to undergo indiscriminate and unlawful searching like common criminals because of Biafra agitation.

“But one thing is certain, these humiliations and intimidation cannot stop Igbos, in conjunction with other Biafrans, from pursuing the divine mandate to restore Biafra freedom. The earlier the Fulani-controlled government understand that their unjust arrest, torture and killing of Biafrans will not stop the coming of Biafra, the better for all of us.”

IPOB called on the International Community, especially UK Government, US government, EU, AU, German Government and other Western countries in the world, to prevail on Nigeria Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari and his Fulani kinsmen to leave Biafrans alone. Biafrans have made up their minds to exit from the terrorists-infested country, Nigeria.

“The International Community should prevail on Nigeria’s Fulani controlled Government to set referendum date for Biafrans to decide their fate in Nigeria. Referendum is the only democratic process approved by UN for people to make their political decision.

“Nigeria Government should divulge itself of arrogance and organize Biafra Referendum so that we democratically choose to stay or exit Nigeria. The earlier they take this option, the better for both Biafra and Nigeria,” the separatist group said.

Update news