The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Thursday, said it would take legal action against any media platform that links it with the activities of Finland-based Simon Ekpa and his autopilot group.
The pro-self-determination group reiterated that Simon Ekpa and the autopilot group are neither members of the IPOB, nor is Ekpa a disciple of the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
IPOB was responding to a recent directive by Simon Ekpa asking the Igbo community in Lagos to sit at home to protest the arson attack on Balogun market, which he viewed as targetted against Igbo businesses.
The group dissociated itself from the said sit-at-home order, adding that Igbos in Lagos were unlikely to obey Ekpa's "mindless" directive, according to a statement from the IPOB media and publicity secretary, Emma Powerful.
It maintained that IPOB is a peaceful movement led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and seeking the freedom of Biafra "through an UN-supervised referendum,” while Simon Ekpa or autopilot group are separate and " on their own. "
The statement said, “The chief infiltrator in Finland has been ignored by Biafrans in his mindless sit-at-homes in the East; perhaps he thinks Ndigbo in Lagos will be so daft to obey his sit-at-home order in Lagos. We know our people are wise.
“From today onwards any media outfit in Nigeria whether print media, online news, or others anywhere in the world that makes the mistake of tagging Simon Ekpa and ‘autopilot’ as IPOB members or Mazi Nnamdi Kanu disciples again must be ready to meet us in the law courts; Enough is enough!
“We have made it open to all media groups to stop linking Simon Ekpa and his cohorts and autopilots group to the IPOB movement and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. We are now prepared to take the bull by the horn.
“Media must call Simon Ekpa and autopilot group to what they did and not connect their actions to IPOB.
“IPOB is a separate movement led by Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Simon Ekpa or autopilot group are on their own. We are not the same people.
“We are a peaceful movement seeking the freedom of Biafra through an UN-supervised referendum,” IPOB stated.
Human Rights.
Comments