Posted by Samuel on Thu 05th Oct, 2023 - tori.ng
It noted that agitation for self-determination which the constitution of Nigeria and international instruments guarantee cannot be tagged as terrorism.
The use of fighter jets to bombard some parts of Igbo land has been condemned by the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State Biafra (MASSOB).
MASSOB described the renewed killing of Igbo youths and tagging them terrorists as an ethnic cleansing.
The pro-Biafra group warned the Nigerian military to stop the bombardment.
It accused the military of using the guise of fighting unknown gunmen to kill Igbo youths.
MASSOB under the leadership of Comrade Uchenna Madu, in a statement signed by its National Director of Information, Comrade Edeson Samuel, said that “it views this hypocritical military move as another dimension of political ethnic cleansing of Ndigbo by the Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led APC (All Progressives Congress) illegal administration".
It noted that agitation for self-determination which the constitution of Nigeria and international instruments guarantee cannot be tagged as terrorism.
MASSOB stated that even the alleged proscription of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by former President Muhammadu Buhari's regime was still being challenged in the Court of Appeal. It noted that because of the “compromised Nigerian judiciary,” the case had been stalled since 2017.
MASSOB, however, noted that Igbo people were not surprised that Tinubu had started following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Buhari by making sure that Ndigbo and Igbo land would become irrelevant in "this geographical entity called Nigeria".
It said, “This is clear evidence and a true manifestation of pathological hatred and jealousy against Igbo nation by the Arewa and Oduduwa people.
“MASSOB observes that the biased Federal government of Nigeria has entered into negotiation with the Northern Nigeria-based Islamic terrorist bandits’ groups.
“These are well-known and globally recognised terrorist groups that have raped, kidnapped and committed open and brazen genocide against Christian communities and villages in northern regions of Nigeria.
“They have destroyed many homes and displaced thousands of inhabitants of the native lands in their quest for Islamic religious occupation, still the Nigerian government is negotiating with them instead of getting them arrested.
“Though MASSOB does not support any form of criminality or violent agitation, we also do not support the use of military jet fighters to bombard and destroy Igbo land."
It added, “Bombing the so-called hideout of the unknown gunmen will never yield any positive result; you can never get peace by bombing or killing the people."
Meanwhile, MASSOB also reiterated its demand for the release of Mr Nnamdi Kanu, leader of IPOB, insisting that his release would douse tension in Igbo land.
“MASSOB wish to remind the Nigeria state that a self-determination ideology hatched can never be abandoned irrespective of the pressures from the oppressor.
“No amount of military bombardment of villages and communities in Igbo land can stop Biafra actualisation and restoration because God, History and Humanity are on our side," it said.