The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has dismissed as unfounded and a lie from the pit of hell that it has drawn the map of Biafra, saying the allegation is being sponsored by it’s enemies. The pro-Biafra group also stated that the allegation is false and intended to set Biafrans against themselves saying that the issue of Biafra map should not generate any heat because Biafrans know themselves. A statement by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, entitled Nnamdi Kanu did not draw any map of Biafra, said, ”the Ijaws should stop saying that Ijaw wasn’t conquered pre colonial and Colonial era because Igbo never said they were conquered. Emma Powerful also asked the Ijaw National Council, INC, to understand and remember that their ”brother” Dr Frank Opigo initiated the name Biafra which the whole of Biafrans are known for today. IPOB’s statement read, “We are the global movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB, under the command and leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. “Our attention has been drawn to the blackmail being sponsored by our detractors that IPOB has drawn the Biafra map. We, therefore, want to debunk such fallacious narrative. We did not draw any Biafra map. “We understand that some people in the coastal region of Biafra are misinformed and deceived with false information that IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu and Igbo have drawn the map of Biafra. “It is false and intended to set us against ourselves. The issue of Biafra map should not generate any heat because we know ourselves. “Ijaw National Council, INC, should understand and remember that their brother Dr Frank Opigo initiated the name Biafra which we answer today. “They should stop saying that Ijaw wasn’t conquered pre colonial and Colonial era because Igbo never said they were conquered. Igbo people never conquered any tribe in the old Eastern region because our fathers saw themselves as one family, and today IPOB and Nnamdi Kanu, have towed the peaceful steps and accommodating spirits of our fathers. According to Emma Powerful, if any tribe undermine us, no problem, they can continue on their own. Being part of BIAFRA will never be by coercion but a voluntary matter through referendum. “Any tribe or ethnic group that doesn’t want to be part of Biafra will never be forced to do so. Such tribes are free to go on their own, but you must conduct referendum for your people to decide their fate on the agitation for Biafra. “We can attest that Igbo people never fought against any tribe in olden days because Igbo believe in (Onyeaghala Nwanne ya and, Ibiri Kamu biri) (live and let live). Again Ijaw tribe and other tribes in the old Eastern region including Mid Western region are Igbo brothers and sisters today, tomorrow and forever. “Igbo are not going to force anybody or tribe to join the fight for Biafra freedom. Let every tribe try what they can to wake up for their freedom because freedom is good and remains the best for all of us. “No tribe in the old Eastern region and Western region should allow themselves to be deceived because Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB did not draw map for Biafra. Instead, we are staking our precious lives for all and it is the sacrifice we ought to pay for the realisation of our freedom and independence. “We are staking all we have for this freedom project, without Igbo tribe being in forefront of this struggle the struggle would have been a thing of the past and we must continue until freedom is totally achieved. “Again, we appreciate the move by Izon tribe and other tribes in the region to achieve freedom but they should not look by the side because if they do, they will lose their focus then the freedom will move out of their hands, let them focus and work with Igbo tribe because they will go far doing that.

Abdulkadri Saliu, the now-ejected Seriki Fulani of Igangan in the Ibarapa North-West Local Council Development Area of Oyo State, says he does not support the calls for the release of embattled Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho. Igboho, who has been in a prison in Benin Republic for over six months, had stormed Igangan in January 2021 and warned the herders said to be perpetrating crimes in the town to desist from the alleged acts. He had subsequently issued an ultimatum for Saliu and his men to vacate the town. The evicted Sarkin Fulani had relocated to Ilorin since the incident said his only consolation was the fact that he was not killed on the day he was displaced from the agrarian community. Speaking on the January 22, 2021 incident, he said anytime he remembers the day, he always bursts into tears even as he maintained his innocence over the incidents of kidnapping and killings in the community. “It is on record that only three Yoruba persons were kidnapped in Igangan since the problem started; others were Fulani. “I lost my younger brother in the process. We lost several of my kinsmen. You cannot even count the number of cows that were rustled. It was a sad moment for me. I lost everything I laboured for all my life and life has been extremely hard since last year when Sunday Igboho stormed my settlement,” Daily Trust quoted him as saying. Speaking on the earlier quit notice issued by Igboho prior to his eviction, Sarki explained that he did not handle the eviction notice with levity and he got assurance from the state government after the quit notice but he was surprised that Igboho carried out his threat without anybody challenging him. He said, “For those seven days, the state government sent 14 police officers to us and they were guiding us but the police officers were overpowered by Sunday Igboho’s men. This is why I don’t support the call for the release of Igboho. “I am sure he must be regretting his actions now. Any Nigerian can live in any part of the country and I have always said that there are criminals everywhere. There are criminals among Yoruba just like we have among the Fulani people. This is where we expected the government to come in and fish out those who are criminally minded.” Saliu said one year later, he still hoped that justice would be done and he would be compensated for the properties lost during the crisis.

Bayelsa State task force on the implementation and enforcement of the anti-open grazing law has impounded 44 cows in Yenagoa, the state capital for roaming around the restricted areas. The committee, led by the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr David Alagoa, in the company of security operatives, impounded the cows from the readers. Daily Trust gathered that the herders and owners of the cows were not arrested alongside the cows. Last month, the state’s livestock management committee had charged three herders for violating the state’s anti-open grazing law. Farmers in Bayelsa State have lamented the destruction of their farmlands by cattle, urging the state government to ensure that the anti-open grazing law is totally enforced to avoid conflicts. Recently, some farmers along the Tombia-Amassoma Road axis in Okutukutu community of Yenagoa, while counting their losses due to the destruction of their farms by cattle, said the invasion of their farmlands by herders was affecting their incomes. Editor’s note: This photo is for illustrative purpose