Hold President Buhari, Ohanaeze, Southeast governors responsible if we take up arms – IPOB

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Monday said President Muhammadu Buhari and the five governors of the south eastern states were working hard to criminalize it despite its non-violent stand.

In a press release signed by Emma Powerful, media and publicity secretary of the group, he said the Buhari administration and the five governors were worried that despite the brazen provocation and attack against its leader and members, the group had remained non-violent.

It said that President Buhari should be blamed if the group decided to shed its non-violent stand and take to arms as it has been pushed beyond limit.“It was the Nigerian government and her security operatives that brought violence into the Biafra agitation not IPOB. Should IPOB decide to engage in armed struggle at a future date, the world must hold the government of Buhari, Igbo governors and Ohanaeze Ndigbo responsible.

“We always held peaceful rallies and protests all around major cities across Biafraland without any violent incident or objection from the masses, but they decided to tag us terrorists in order to justify the violent crackdown on innocent Biafran populations. Our happiness is that today the world can see that IPOB is innocent and have totally vindicated us,” he said.

The group which referred to the governors and the leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo as political contractors said they were envious of IPOB’s popularity and the demonstrable feat it had achieved in the struggle.

31 monkey pox cases in Lagos, Ekiti, Ogun, others

Monkey pox, which started with an index case in Bayelsa on September 22, has spread to six other states, including Lagos.

There are 31 cases, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said yesterday.

NCDC National Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu listed the states as Bayelsa, Rivers, Ekiti, Akwa Ibom, Ogun and Cross River.

He said   samples had been collected from each suspected case for laboratory confirmation.

Said Ihekweazu: “It is unlikely that many of the    suspected cases are actually monkey pox, but all are being    investigated.”

He said all the suspected   cases were receiving medical    care and the patients improving clinically in their    various states.

Ihekweazu said the centre    had activated an Emergency    Operation Centre (EOC)    to    coordinate the outbreak    investigation and response    across the affected states.    “The EOC is currently supporting    state    ministries    of Health in their response to the outbreak through active case finding, epidemiological investigation and contact tracing. Measures have been put in place to ensure effective sample collection and    testing to enable laboratory    confirmation. Risk communication activities have been    heightened to advise the    public on preventive measures. All 36 states and the    FCT have been notified for    preparedness,” he explained.

The Lagos State Government confirmed yesterday that it had recorded two suspected cases and appealed to residents to remain calm and vigilant.

Commissioner for Health Dr. Jide Idris told reporters that the two suspected cases were being investigated.

“Though no confirmed case has been recorded, there is need to sensitise members of the public and provide adequate information on measures for prevention and control of the disease in line with the policy of the state government,” he said.

Idris said the two suspected cases were recorded in a private hospital which he did not name.

He added that one of the suspected cases just came from Bayelsa State and ate bush meat.

Idris said the two suspected cases had been quarantined in their various houses pending the result of the investigation.

The commissioner said in the wake of this outbreak, the government was reiterating the need for members of the public to observe and maintain a high standard of personal and environmental hygiene at all times as part of the precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the disease to the State.

He urged the public to be vigilant and report any suspected case of the disease to the nearest public health facility or the Directorate of Disease Control in the Ministry of Health.

“Also, health workers are advised to practise universal safety precautions in the management of suspected or confirmed cases, wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment when attending to cases, wash hands after each contact with patient or contaminated materials while surveillance system must be strengthened.

“The state government has mobilised the Disease Surveillance Officers in the 57 LGAs and LCDAs in the state and health workers in both public and private health facilities have been placed on high alert,” Idris said.

Idris called on residents to remain calm and go about their businesses without fear as the government had put in place adequate measures to effectively prevent and control the spread of the infection to the state.

“In case of any suspected case of Monkey Pox, the Lagos State Ministry of Health should be notified through the following mobile lines: 08037170614, 09087106072,” the commissioner said.

IPOB declares sit-at-home in Anambra, November 18

IPOB declares sit-at-home in Anambra, November 18

— 9th October 2017

The Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) has declared sit-at-home in Anambra State on November 18, 2017 in protest and boycott of the governorship election in the state.

The group said that election boycott was the only legitimate tool left in the hands of the oppressed people to register its displeasure with the alleged ongoing genocide in its land.

A statement by the Media and Publicity Secretary of IPOB Emma Powerful said that Biafrans in Anambra must not only stay at home on that day, but must also make sure those around them do not vote on November 18, because if they vote, Nigeria will never again take Biafra agitation serious.

The speech states: “We want to bring to the notice of IPOB members in Biafraland particularly those in Anambra State that November 18 gubernatorial election is the day of destiny for all lovers of freedom. Every genuine Biafran desiring of freedom for Biafra from this Islamic bondage of Hausa Fulani caliphate called Nigeria, must not only stay at home on that day, but must also make sure those around them do not vote. November 18, 2017 is a date with history”.

“If we Biafrans succeed in demonstrating before international observers that we are serious about our freedom by locking down Anambra State on that day, the world will be in no doubt that Biafra is unstoppable. Our destiny is firmly in our hands. We must teach corrupt Igbo politicians that money cannot buy IPOB because we are special breed untainted by the corrupt tendencies of Nigerian politics. Locking down Anambra State will pave the way for IPOB to announce a date for substantive referendum later next year with or without the approval of Nigeria”

“Events in Catalonia and Kurdistan havde pointed the way forward for we Biafrans because it was clearly demonstrated by both nations that we can call for and conduct our referendum with or without the cooperation of Nigeria. Election boycott is the only legitimate tool left in the hands of we oppressed people to register our displeasure with the ongoing genocide in our land, arbitrary arrests, torture and reign of saboteurs in government houses across Biafraland. If we vote, Nigeria will never again take Biafra agitation serious”.