BREAKING NEWS: Nigerian army denies declaring IPOB terrorist organisation


The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, on Monday evening, denied the reports that the military ever tagged the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, a terrorist organisation.



He said rather, what the army did was to make a pronouncement on IPOB which, according to him, was not “a declaration per se.” He said what the federal government is doing regarding the group is the right thing.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai
Recall that few hours ago, the President of the Nigerian Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki had condemned the tagging of IPOB as terrorist organisation, saying it was unconstitutional. Saraki had also faulted the South-East governors for proscribing the activities of IPOB in the region. Recall that army’s Director of Defence Information, Major General John Enenche, had pronounced that IPOB was a terrorist organisation after a reported clash between military personnel and IPOB members in Umuahia, Abia state.

Enenche had, during the pronouncement, given the following reasons for tagging IPOB a terrorist organisation; According to him, ““After due professional analysis and recent developments, it has become expedient to notify the general public that the claim by IPOB actors that the organisation is non-violent is not true. “Hence, the need to bring to public awareness the true and current state of IPOB.

“In this regard, some of their actions, clandestinely and actively, that have been terrorising the general public include: “The formation of a Biafra Secret Service, claimed formation of Biafra National Guard, unauthorised blocking of public access roads and extortion of money from innocent civilians at illegal road blocks. “Militant possession and use of weapons (stones, molotov cocktails, machetes and broken bottles, among others) on a military patrol on Sept. 10, 2017. “Physical confrontation of troops by Nnamdi Kanu and other IPOB actors at a check point on Sept. 11, 2017 and also attempt to snatch their rifles.

“Attack by IPOB members on a military check point on Sept. 12, 2017, at Isialangwa, where one IPOB actor attempted to snatch a female soldier’s rifle.’’ “From the foregoing, the Armed Forces of Nigeria wish to confirm to the general public that IPOB from all intent, plan and purpose as analysed, is a militant terrorist organisation.”

However, Buratai said the army did not categorize IPOB as terrorist organisation but that the Defence Headquarters just made a pronouncement. Buratai gave the statement while speaking during the official launch of Operation Python Dance II in Abakaliki. According to him, “You have to get it very clear. First of all, what the Defence Headquarters did was to make pronouncement. It wasn’t a declaration per se.

But this has given room for the right step to be taken. I think the government is doing the right thing. “It is not that we are overstepping our bounds.

We are still within the limits. And I ensure you that what the military said was to set the ball rolling and to bring the awareness to the public that this is what this organization is all about. I’m happy that the government has done the right thing right now.”
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  1. Animals eating what they have vomited

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  2. The foolishness among our leaders is increasing everyday.

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  3. The foolishness among our leaders is increasing everyday.

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  4. The military have given a lead to what will soon happen to ipob as an organization if they don't change their method of approach by harassing innocent civilians and blocking the highways and also recruiting and training soldiers etc I for see that organization been labeled as a terrorist organization

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    1. Is this what u read the day u heard IPOB has bn declared a terrorist org? Fed retrieved bc of questions that buhari wil face in USA

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    2. Propaganda victim

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  5. Nigeria is be lead by bunch of criminals, u have eaten ur vomits, look at u useless dog, shame on u, a complete disgrace to arm forces, I know it will come to this one day.

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  6. What is the difference between a "Pronouncement" and a "Declaration". Just to bring to your knowledge a Pronouncement is an authoritative declaration.

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  7. The highest Drama of the century. How can a whole military formation be careless with words? What useless frivolity? Now I see why it is difficult for The Nigeria Army to defeat Boko Haram. Buharis's clueless and nefarious government is 28 Months old, and yet we are still hearing and seeing what The Foriegn Terrorist Organisation (Boko Haram) is still doing to innocent people in the North East. Now I know what is happening. Goodluck Jonathan actually suffered in the hands of these wicked, and nefarious northers. Remember, it was Buhari and I quote him- That an attack on Boko Haram is Anti-North. Thia was one of his wicked plans to disorganize Goodluck Jonathan's regime. See now, he could not hide what he is. Terrorist to the highest order. Why would you keep colossal mistakes all the time? Buhari's government I now see is a complete failure. Now I see why the Igbo's refused to vote for him. They are really Prophets.

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