A group of ex-militants in support of the agitation by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has claimed responsibility for the hijack of a ship on Friday along the Bakassi Pennisula Nigeria coastal line.

The group, which recently gave the Federal Government a 31-day ultimatum to release Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB leader and Director of Radio Biafra, said the concerned Niger Delta agitators were abreast with the incarceration of Kanu.

Spokesperson of the group, who gave his name as General Ben, threatened that they would blow up the vessel with the expatriates onboard, if the government continues to dilly-dally over Kanu’s release.

Speaking in Port Harcourt yesterday, the group’s spokesperson declared that they would not wait till the end of the ultimatum, before showing their seriousness.

Ben stated: “We cannot wait till the end of the 31 days to tell the Federal Government that we are serious. The vessel and the crew are under custody.

“And any noise, any delay from government, we will blow up everything. We will blow the vessel and everybody in the vessel will go down.

“We are not interested in the country that owns the vessel. What we know is that the vessel was coming to Nigeria to lift oil. We are not interested; once it is blown up, let the country and Nigeria resolve the matter.

“We are in touch with everything happening around the IPOB leader.

“Now, court has denied him bail, saying because of his dual citizenship, he might jump bail. We also heard that the judge said he would rather give the matter an accelerated hearing.

“This is provocative; hence we did not waste time to go into action. We are in support of the Biafra struggle. We will not retreat or surrender.

“The federal government might have taken our ultimatum as an empty threat. But, we will surprise them.”

Also, the group reacted to the Supreme Court verdict, which upheld the appeal filed by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, saying that it saved the state from bloodshed.

Ben said the state would have been overwhelmed by crisis, warning any government against sabotaging the IPOB agitation of the consequences. (Sunday Sun)

•Photo shows Nnamdi Kanu.

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