The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has issued a stern warning to Ahmad Bashir, a former media aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, urging him to refrain from comparing IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu with notorious bandit leader Bello Turji.
In a statement released to *The PUNCH* on Wednesday, IPOB emphasized that Kanu does not support terrorism, unlike Turji, who has been linked to violent activities. The group made it clear that Kanu’s actions, particularly the establishment of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), were intended to protect the people of the southeast and were not aligned with terrorism.
IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, stated that Kanu’s only “offence” against the Fulani oligarchy was his formation of the ESN to defend against armed herdsmen attacks. This response follows Bashir’s recent comments, in which he accused both Kanu and Turji of harming Nigeria and suggested they be jailed in the most severe facilities.
Responding, Emma Powerful said, “The Directorate of State (DOS) of IPOB warns Ahmad Bashir, an aide to the former Fulani government of Buhari, to stop comparing unarmed freedom fighter, Nnamdi Kanu with their terrorist brothers led by Turji Bello.
“Bashir should not deflect from … cabal’s role in bringing murderous terrorists into Northern Nigeria by dragging IPOB and Kanu’s names into their terrorism issues. Our mission is legal and noble.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, as a true Igbo Biafran, does not believe in terrorism. His only crime against terrorist sponsors like Bashir was creating the Eastern Security Network (ESN) to counter Fulani expansion and conquest.
“The Fulani oligarchy views Kanu and IPOB as obstacles to their agenda in Nigeria, particularly in the South East. This is why they use military might and media propaganda to intimidate and discredit IPOB and Kanu.
“The previous government, which Bashir served, spent vast amounts of money to illegally abduct Kanu from Kenya, defying court rulings.
“Meanwhile, the terrorists they allowed into Northern Nigeria continue to wreak havoc. The Fulani cabals view Kanu and IPOB as their enemies, but their real enemies are the very terrorists they nurtured, now turning against them and Northern Nigeria.”
