Igala people under the auspices of Ufedo Foundation of Nigeria have said that the agitators of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) erred by including them in the map because they are not part of Biafra.
The foundation demanded an apology from IPOB because they felt insulted by their inclusion in the map.
The group was reacting to a statement credited to IPOB spokespersons, Emma Nmezu and Dr. Clifford Chukwuemeka Iroanya that Biafra was not for Igbos alone.
IPOB had noted in the publication that in the present day Nigeria, the nation of Biafra consists of some Igbo speaking states and Igala in Kogi state.
One of Ufedo trustees, Dr. Labaran Abalaka said the group erred by including the Igala in Biafra, “We wish to dissociate ourselves from the inclusion of Igala people in the so-called map of Biafra.”
He said, “For the Biafran agitators to single-handedly carve a map of their envisaged republic and include the Igala kingdom amounts to fraud and grave insult to the Igala race."
Dr. Abalaka while addressing journalists yesterday said the foundation was aware that no meeting was held between the Igalas of Kogi state and the leadership of Biafra agitators with a view to discussing the inclusion of the Igala race in the Biafran agenda.
“We demand an open apology for the insult and immediate retraction of the wrongful inclusion,” he said.
Dr. Abalaka said the Igala people are satisfied in Nigeria and are not contemplating any secession.
