The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has strongly rejected what it described as President Bola Tinubu’s “hate-filled independence speech,” accusing him of recklessly linking the pro-Biafra group with Boko Haram.
In a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB faulted Tinubu for excluding groups such as ISWAP, Al-Qaeda in the Maghreb, and Lakaruwa in his speech while mentioning only Boko Haram and IPOB, which it said implied selective labeling.
“The attention of IPOB under the command and leadership of our great leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has been drawn to the divisive and hateful Independence Day address delivered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in which he recklessly and falsely lumped IPOB with Boko Haram,” the statement read.
The group insisted that it is a peaceful, globally recognized movement committed to nonviolent self-determination and pointed out that no verifiable evidence has linked IPOB or its leader to terrorism. It recalled a 2017 Federal High Court judgment in Abuja, which ruled that IPOB is not a terrorist organization, stressing that the ruling remains valid.
IPOB further accused Tinubu of hypocrisy for allegedly demonizing the group while ignoring violent activities of armed herdsmen across several Nigerian states.
The group also berated Igbo political leaders, whom it accused of weakness and betrayal, saying Tinubu could only make such claims because the Igbo political class lacked the courage to defend their people.
Reiterating its stance, IPOB said it “is not Boko Haram, ISWAP, or Al-Qaeda” but a movement struggling for survival in the face of “state-sponsored genocide.” The group condemned Tinubu’s comments as an attempt to criminalize the Igbo people, vowing that the Biafra struggle remains a just cause grounded in justice and international law.
What you should know
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), founded by Nnamdi Kanu, is a separatist group advocating for the independence of Biafra from Nigeria.
Although proscribed by the Nigerian government in 2017, the group insists it is nonviolent and has repeatedly rejected accusations of terrorism.
Its rejection of Tinubu’s speech underscores ongoing tensions between the federal government and pro-Biafra movements, with Nnamdi Kanu still in custody despite multiple court rulings ordering his release.
