Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has threatened to lockdown the South-East again over President Muhammadu Buhari’s plan to visit Ebonyi State to commission some projects.
The proscribed secessionist group said if its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is not released before the proposed visit, it would shut down the South-East any day Buhari sets his foot in the region.
IPOB made the threat in a statement by its spokesman, Emma Powerful, on Thursday, claiming that its leader did not commit any crime to warrant being kept in the Department of State Security (DSS) custody, and allegedly being mistreated and dehumanised while those who should be in detention are walking free.
According to Powerful, Buhari will meet “empty streets during his visit to Ebonyi State” if Kanu is not released because IPOB will ensure people stay indoors as a way of showing their displeasure over the travails of their leader.
The statement read, “The attention of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has been drawn to the planned secret visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Ebonyi State. The secret visit according to IPOB intelligence is being facilitated by some APC politicians in the state.
“IPOB will not accept any visit both secret and open, by Buhari to Biafraland while our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is still in DSS custody,” the statement said.
“Our leader has to be released unconditionally before Buhari should contemplate any visit to Biafra land.
“Biafrans will lock down everywhere any day he ventures to visit Biafraland until he releases our leader. He will meet empty streets in Ebonyi or any part of Biafra he chooses to visit without releasing Nnamdi Kanu.
“Biafrans must be prepared to lock down our territory any day he comes here in our region. Buhari has shown that he doesn’t like us. Our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu cannot be in detention and we are welcoming Buhari in our region. “Biafrans will sit at home any day he decides to come and mock us. He will know that the few politicians telling him lies about us don’t have control over the people. Should he decide to proceed with the planned visit, Ebonyi will be on lockdown.”