IPOB PRESS RELEASE
20/08/2024

The Noble family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by the great and indefatigable leader, Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu Kanu calls for the release of two brothers from Ubuluisiuzo Community in Ihiala LGA of Anamabra State kidnapped by the Nigeria Army and Ihiala Vigilantees.

The two kidnapped brothers, namely Obinna Okafor and Amarachi Okafor, were abducted by the Nigeria Army and Ihiala Vigilantee for doing nothing other than being seen sitting in a restaurant. One of the kidnapped victims just returned from Indonesia to his hometown in Ihiala and was abducted by the Nigerian Army and a community Vigilantee who should have been protecting them. The rampant extortion and indiscriminate abduction of innocent Igbo youths, particularly those that returned from overseas by the Nigerian Security Agencies, is a deliberate action to intimidate Ndigbo in diaspora to dread returning home.

The Ihiala Vigilantees must not become a tool in the hands of the notorious Nigeria Army to abduct and possibly kill innocent Igbo youths. As a community Vigilantee, you are supposed to protect your community people not to collude with the murderous Nigerian Security Forces to kidnap your people for extortion and extrajudicial executions. If you’re part of those Vigilante members in Alaigbo helping to point fingers on those to be abducted by the notorious Nigerian Army and Police for a reward, your days are numbered in our community. Ndigbo can not be profiled and targeted for elimination and extortion by tribal bigots in the Nigeria Army, and some useless Vigilantees in Alaigbo are supporting them. The local vigilantees were set up by communities to protect community members and not to betray them for a cash reward.
We are calling on the PG and Traditional Rulers and leaders in Ihiala to call their Ihiala Vigilantees to order. Anyone working with our enemies is an enemy.

The notoriously murderous Nigerian Army and Police in the East Region are molesting, intimidating, and disappearing Igbo youths indiscriminately. These criminals in the Nigerian Army and Police are part of the kidnapping gangs and illegal organ traffickers in the East. They go about abducting innocent Youths and demand that their abductees pay millions or be labeled as ESN Operatives or IPOB members. These terrorists in uniform should know that they don’t even have any reason to arrest ESN Operatives or IPOB members, but they continue extorting money from Ndigbo with threats and violence by applying their prejudiced ideology. The Nigerian Army and Police are the ones terrorising towns and communities in Alaigbo and looting shops and homes of Biafrans.

IPOB is calling on the Nigerian Army and Ihiala Vigilantee to release the two kidnapped brothers (Obinna and Amarachi Okafor) and other innocent Igbo youths in their custody immediately. These boys must not be killed or linked to any criminal gang as the notorious Nigerian Army is known to do. The young men are innocent and law abiding. The man Obinna Okafor is a known bricklayer in Ihiala, and his brother Amarachi Okafor just returned from Indonesia. They must be released unconditionally without further delay, or the Ihiala Vigilantee will be held responsible for their kidnapping and disappearance.

COMRADE EMMA POWERFUL, MEDIA, AND PUBLICITY SECRETARY FOR IPOB