Nnamdi Kanu

South East Nigeria secessionist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Sunday expressed its support for the Niger Delta Avengers.

IPOB described the Niger Delta group which has succeeded in reducing Nigeria’s oil production by about 50 per cent through relentless destruction of oil installations in the oil producing region as its “kith and kin.”

IPOB which stated this in a statement signed by its spokespersons, Emma Mmezu and Dr. Chukwuemeka Iroanya also reiterated its opposition to other pro Biafra group opposed to the activities of the Niger Delta Avengers.

“The Indigenous People of Biafra under the leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu hereby state that we support our kith and kin – the Niger Delta Avengers, who are fighting for the freedom of our people from the enslaving Nigerian Government.

“We want to place it on record that IPOB has no connection with some groups who are claiming on the pages of Nigerian newspapers that they do not support our fellow freedom fighters – the NDA,” IPOB said in the statement.

IPOB also said in the statement that Niger Delta Avengers was not fighting for resource control and a restoration of the amnesty programme, rather it was fighting for Biafra, a claim clearly in contradiction of what the Niger Delta group itself has said in its press statements.

“The NDA have consistently stated that the release of IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is a precondition for any discussion with Nigeria,” it said.

“Unfortunately, the Nigerian government has swept this demand under the carpet while magnifying the notion of amnesty payments and resource control as reasons for the NDA’s actions.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the NDA is fighting for the freedom of the people of Biafra and not for amnesty payment or for resource control as some commentators would like to believe.”

IPOB added that if the secession plan is successful, resources will be controlled by the owners of the land where those resources are located.

The Biafran group also faulted calls for amnesty to be extended to the Avengers.

“Amnesty is associated with criminality and a people who are fighting for their freedom should not be unjustly termed criminals.

“The notion and talk of amnesty for our own freedom fighters (the NDA) is a misnomer and should be taken out of any discourse.

“On the contrary, amnesty should be granted to the elite who unjustly appropriated oil and gas wells and other resources to themselves and their cohorts to the detriment of the masses,” the group said.