By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has dismissed rumour of a purported secret Biafra Referendum, saying that it is being concocted by the Finland-based Simon Ekpa.

IPOB in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said: "For public records, there is nothing like BIAFRA Referendum at this moment. Do not fall into the Nigeria Government's traps.

"IPOB is the only movement leading the call for the referendum for Biafrans in Nigeria. Referendums are not conducted in the secret like the criminals are currently doing.

"These infiltrator criminals and their leader called in Finland want to reduce Biafra's struggle to an entertainment show. Biafrans must ignore all his antics to make the people believe that he is doing something after IPOB leadership has crippled his channels of scamming Biafrans.

"Referendum, according to the United Nation, is a direct vote by the electorate on a political issue such as Biafra Self- Determination. If Biafrans are to hold a referendum, IPOB leadership will announce it publicly via radio Biafra and in all Biafrans' social media handles. Even the Nigerian and international media agencies will announce such an epic event, also.

"The Biafra Referendum date and the criteria will be announced, scheduled, and organized within the framework of UN laws and African Charter. A referendum is an open and transparent political process that will involve the observation and supervision of the international community. It’s not an Umunna night meeting like some people are conducting by themselves in the name of Biafra Referendum.

"If the people visit any family in the night to vote for the referendum, Biafrans should ignore them. Biafrans should avoid giving their personal information to the criminal led criminal agents to avoid ‘had I known’.”

The group insisted that the Nnamdi Kanu-led IPOB is the one calling for Biafra Referendum, adding that should there be any referendum for Biafrans, the same IPOB will inform the people, not a criminal gang that earlier blackmailed IPOB for its stand on using political processes such as referendum for the restoration of Biafra.

It added: "We thought that the criminal and his auto bandits said they don't believe the political process? What happened to the war ships, fighter jets, and their Liberation Army?

"Why did they deceive their followers with the fun fare he called Finland self-referendum? Why are they still hiding in the cover of the night deceiving innocent Biafrans in villages with the same political solution they blackmailed IPOB for?

"Biafrans don't give out your personal information to those who will give the same information to the DSS for your possible abduction.

"We gathered that the agent provocateurs sent messages to some Traditional Rulers and Town Union Presidents to gather their people for a Biafra referendum. Please do not listen or gather anywhere for any referendum.

"These infiltrators are working for the Nigeria government to repeat the Asaba massacre of 1969 during the genocidal war against Ndigbo. This purported referendum news in Biafra Land is the handiwork of criminals and infiltrators to harm our people. Therefore, everyone must be careful. This could be planned by the Nigeria government and her compromised security agencies to assemble our people for slaughter.

"This is a warning from IPOB. Do not gather anywhere for any purported referendum. There's nothing like BIAFRA referendum for now. If you reject this warning and fall into the hands of the Nigerian Security Forces in the name of their fraudulent BIAFRA referendum, do not say you were not warned.”

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