The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has decried what it described as the provocative presence of the Nigerian Army at Afaraukwu, Umuahia, saying that it is an insult to the people of Biafra and the Igbo race in particular.

The group warned that anybody who supports unprovoked murderous clampdown on IPOB in any way during tomorrow’s funeral of the parents of is leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, would pay dearly for it.

A statement on Wednesday by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said: “What Nigerian police and army are planning to do in Afaraukwu during the burial of Eze Israel Okwu Kanu and his wife on Friday 14th of February 2020 will set-off a chain reaction that Nigeria will never recover from.

“IPOB is warning all agents of Nigerian government in Biafraland, traitors and caliphate slaves alike that what will befall CP Okon will also be their portion should shots be fired in Afaraukwu. The era of Nigerian army and police shooting innocent mourners in Biafraland has come to an end.”

The group said that the common arbitrary arrest of any mourner during the burial ceremony on Friday is capable of inciting a disproportionate reaction from angry mourners.

It stressed that IPOB has remained peaceful regretting that the Nigerian government is hell-bent on provoking the group into armed struggle that will inevitably precipitate the violent disintegration of Nigeria.

The statement added: “Nigerians should call their government in Aso Rock to order and impress upon them the need for their army and police to steer clear of the whole of Umuahia township on February 14, 2020 in the interest of peace.

“They should head to the north where there are countless security challenges. We want to join the people of Afaraukwu in peacefully mourning the death of HRM Eze Sir I.O Kanu and his wife in peace, who it must be said died as a result of Nigerian army and police invasion of their home on September 14, 2017.

“As we continue to receive daily threats from the army and police regarding their impending massacre of innocent mourners on Friday February 14, let the world be on notice that the floodgates of hell will be opened should the army or police appear anywhere around Afaraukwu on the day of the burial.

“Let those that may feign ignorance of the fact be duly warned on time that burial ceremony is sacred in Igboland, especially that of a king, therefore the intended nuisance of Nigeria security personnel will not be tolerated on Friday.

“We are aware that those behind the deadly invasion of September 2017 are the same people working with Aso Rock to bring mayhem to Umuahia on Friday. Out of public view, these politicians and so-called socio cultural leaders have been offering finacial support to Fulani soldiers in Obinze, Ohafia, Abakiliki, Onitsha and Asa in readiness for their deadly deployment to Umuahia.

“Their plan is to kill as many people as possible to demoralise our leader and pave the way for a full scale Fulani invasion and takeover of our land.

“We are equally in the know of the numerous plans and strategies of the troops so far deployed by Buratai to the east in preparation for the burial of our first parents.

“It’s quite obvious to the average reasonable person that IPOB will not succumb to their pressure regardless of the consequences. All their perfected plans to disrupt the burial on that very day is common knowledge among diplomatic circles all over the world who will be following the proceedings live on Biafra Television, social media and Radio Biafra platforms.

“The plan by Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff Lt. General Tukur Buratai to use the burial ceremony of HRM Eze Israel Okwu Kanu to eliminate and kill anybody suspected to be IPOB supporter in Umuahia on Friday 14th of February 2020 is equal well known, documented and powers that be duly notified.”

IPOB observed that what Nigerian army and police are doing in Umuahia cannot happen in the north noting that the Almajiri populations of the north cannot allow the burial of an Emir to be subjected to such needless tension and ridicule except for Biafraland where anything goes because of the reign of puppets and quislings.

While stating that the burial service of its leader’s parents, HRM Eze Israel Okwu Kanu and his wife Ugoeze Sally Mmeme Okwu Kanu, on Friday at Afaraukwu Umuahia must hold peacefully.

The group warned that if the Police and Army fire a single bullet on the day of the burial, that there will be no peace for every soul involved, especially those that issued the order from the comfort of their offices in Abuja, Enugu, Owerri and Umuahia.

Continuing, IPOB said: “We need a peaceful funeral, the ancient laws of our land demand it and nobody should try IPOB.

“IPOB is strategically monitoring every individual politician in the South East and governors over their actions and inactions towards this burial on Friday.

“It is unfortunate that some Igbo politicians and their supporters would encourage Fulani terrorists and Boko Haram soldiers recruited in Nigeria Army and Police to kill our people in a funeral ceremony, a sacrilegious act that has never happened before in the history of Igboland, Biafra and Nigeria.

“Every Biafran must be prepared this time, IPOB will not allow these marauders to repeat what they did in Umuahia on September 2017 in this 2020 and definitely not during the burial of the parents of our leader. Nigerian army and police must stay away from Umuahia as a whole.”

IPOB called on all people attending the burial on Friday to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the noble ideals of the ancestors, saying that CCTV has been placed along the way leading to Umuahia to monitor human and vehicular traffic.

It further said that Biafra independence and freedom is inevitable vowing nobody born by a mere mortal can stop it.

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