Abuja / Washington —
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has issued a formal response to comments attributed to U.S. Congressman Rep. Riley Moore concerning Nigeria, religious persecution, and separatist movements, describing his position as historically flawed and disconnected from Nigeria’s lived realities.
In a statement released by IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, the group argued that equating Nigeria’s territorial unity with the protection of Christians ignores decades of documented violence, displacement, and impunity faced by Christian communities across the country.
“Territorial Integrity Has Not Protected Christians” — IPOB
According to the statement, Nigeria’s continued existence as a single political entity has not prevented repeated attacks on Christians, particularly in Northern Nigeria, the Middle Belt, and parts of the South-West. IPOB contends that the crisis is not a failure of security partnerships but a structural defect rooted in what it describes as a “forced union of incompatible religious and civilizational systems.”
“For over sixty years, Nigeria has remained territorially intact under a centralized structure inherited from British colonial rule,” the statement said. “During this period, Christians have faced cyclical massacres, church burnings, mass displacement, and a culture of impunity.”
Rejecting Claims That Self-Determination Encourages Terrorism
IPOB dismissed claims that self-determination movements embolden terrorist groups, describing such arguments as the product of lobbying rather than evidence. The group argued that terrorism thrives not because oppressed communities seek autonomy, but because centralized states suppress identity, deny self-rule, and accommodate violent actors.
Citing Afghanistan as an example, IPOB said decades of international security cooperation failed to prevent extremist resurgence, demonstrating that military partnerships alone cannot resolve deeply rooted political and ideological conflicts.
Historical Comparisons and the Case for Separation
The statement drew historical parallels to Europe, arguing that religious minorities have often survived persecution through separation rather than enforced coexistence. IPOB referenced the experience of Protestant minorities in Catholic-dominated Europe, noting that independent Protestant states provided refuge and protection when tolerance failed.
Applying this logic to Nigeria, IPOB maintained that a sovereign Biafra would serve as a secure homeland for persecuted communities, particularly Christians, rather than destabilizing the region.
IPOB Defends Kanu’s Agitation as Peaceful
Addressing concerns about regional instability, IPOB insisted that the movement led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not a call to violence but a demand for a democratic referendum, which it described as a peaceful and internationally recognized conflict-resolution mechanism.
The group further claimed that since IPOB’s emergence, mass killings of Igbos in parts of Northern Nigeria have significantly declined, attributing the development to collective self-assertion rather than state intervention.
Call for Rethinking Nigeria’s Political Structure
While acknowledging the importance of international cooperation against violent extremism, IPOB argued that such efforts merely manage symptoms rather than address root causes. The group warned that rejecting peaceful constitutional options while insisting on the permanence of what it termed a “dysfunctional state” would only prolong insecurity and persecution.
“True concern for Christians and other vulnerable communities begins with honesty,” the statement concluded. “Forced unity has failed. History shows that safety, dignity, and peace follow self-rule, not its denial.”
Post a Comment