By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has frowned at the attitude of traditional leaders and rulers allegedly collecting money from terrorists masquerading as herdsmen and allowing them into spaces to operate freely in the communities in the Southeast.

IPOB in a statement on Thursday by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said: “IPOB-ESN operatives are issuing a warning to those compromised Traditional Rulers across Biafraland to be very careful to know that this singular action of theirs can automatically become detrimental because IPOB-ESN doesn’t play when it comes to the issue of Fulani terrorists masquerading as herdsmen’s operations in our land.

“Moreso, IPOB-ESN is giving directives to the Traditional Rulers and Community Leaders that IPOB-ESN will not tolerate any traditional Ruler or Community Leader in Alaigbo conniving with Fulani terrorists nicknamed herdsmen who rape, kidnap and kill people in the community.

“Fulani terrorists nicknamed as herdsmen testified that they paid traditional rulers and leaders before they entered any community and stayed up to three, four, or five months. IPOB-ESN will not spare any traditional ruler or community leader who is involved in this kind of criminal activity, and we are aware that some state governors are involved in this dirty deal as well. Do not be surprised that IPOB-ESN operatives will never allow them to succeed.

“We are astonished and cannot fathom why our traditional leaders will be thwarting the plans to make our land safe. If a Traditional Ruler doesn’t accept what IPOB-ESN are doing to safeguard Igboland, they will be regarded as sabotaging our efforts to restore Biafra.”

While calling on traditional Ruler in Igboland who has made a deal or entered into a business contract to allocate land for Fulani settlement to retrace their steps, the statement added: “From this moment, IPOB-ESN will be monitoring all the traditional leaders in Biafraland.”

•File photo of ESN operatives