Aborigines in Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River (BRAC) have warned the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to leave their communities, saying the attacks in their communities are provocative and unacceptable.
The organization said that within the last couple of weeks they have witnessed the invasion, harassments, raping and killings of innocent citizens, and disruption of peace and socio-economic activities in BRAC coastal territory by IPOB elements.
The General Coordinator of BRAC, Doris McDaniels, said on Wednesday in Abuja that the attacks first witnessed last year at Oyigbo and the Port Harcourt areas of BRAC territory following the instruction of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu through incessant, inflammatory radio broadcast.
“Recently, in Essien Udim LGA of Akwa Ibom State wanton destruction of properties, raping, killings and total institution of anarchy were enacted in some communities there, hence paralyzing the socio-economic life of our people.
“In the last few days, Omuma, Elele, Omagwa and Abua Odual areas of Rivers State were visited leaving a trail of tears, blood and horrific killings. All the unprovoked violence was not necessary.
“These attacks on BRAC territory are provocative, totally unacceptable and highly condemnable. These are likely acts to lead to another angle that will affect the cordial relationship and peaceful cohabitation between the coastal minorities and the Igbos,” Mcdaniels said.
According to her, it should be noted that their traditional fathers, leaders and the generality of their people have severally and at one time or the other distanced themselves and their territory from IPOB and their Biafra dream State.
She said, “We are not Igbos. We are completely distinct sets of people in character, culture and all, from the Igbos.”
She said that it is annoying and offensive for the Igbos to continue to assume their territory as part of their dream nation.
“We consider such posture of greed and annexation an insult, overbearing and disdainful arrogance. We here put it to them that their oppression, killings, dominance and disruption of the lives of our people during the Erstwhile Eastern Region of Nigeria ended on 27 May 1967, 54 years ago, when South Eastern and Rivers States were created following decades of perpetual agitations and protests from our ancestors and forebears, under the umbrella of Various Minority States Agitators and COR State Movement, to be delineated from the Igbos into a separate State. COR represents Calabar, Ogoja and Rivers Provinces.
“As a warning therefore, let them note that their investments in our territory could be preliminary target. Would they in all honesty have allowed our people own stalls or shops in Onitsha or Ariaria markets? But we have been magnanimous to reabsorb the Igbos back to our BRAC states despite their brutal attack on us. IPOB should not allow old wounds to reopen,” McDaniels said.
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