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Line 30: }} The '''Indigenous People of Biafra''' (IPOB) is a separatist group in [[Nigeria]] that aims to restore the defunct [[Republic of Biafra]], a country which seceded from Nigeria in 1967 prior to the [[Nigerian Civil War]] and was subsequently dissolved following its defeat in 1970.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mg.co.za/article/2017-10-06-00-mystery-of-the-missing-biafran-separatist-1/|title=Mystery of the missing Biafran separatist|last=Allison|first=Simon|website=The M&G Online|date=6 October 2017|language=en|access-date=2019-05-13}}</ref> Since 2021, IPOB and other Biafran separatist groups have been fighting a [[Insurgency in Southeastern Nigeria|low-level guerilla conflict in southeastern Nigeria]] against the [[Nigeria|Nigerian government]]. The group was founded in 2012<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leavitt |first=Jericho |date=2023-11-08 |title=Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) |url=https://www.moderninsurgent.org/post/indigenous-people-of-biafra |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=The Modern Insurgent |language=en}}</ref> by [[Nnamdi Kanu]] who has been the leader<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nwonwu |first=Chiagozie |date=2023-01-09 |title=Biafra quest fuels Nigeria conflict: Too scared to marry and bury bodies |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-64110852?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA).Could |access-date=2023-01-31}}</ref> and Uche Mefor, who served as the deputy leader.<ref>Nehru Odeh,{{Cite web |title=IPOB: Why Nnamdi Kanu, Uche Mefor are at war|url=https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2020/11/24/ipob-why-nnamdi-kanu-uche-mefor-are-at-war/ |website=pmnewsnigeria.com|date=24 November 2020|access-date=7 June 2024}}</ref> It is Kanu is known as a British [[political activist]] known for his advocacy of the contemporary Biafran independence movement.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2017-05-05 |title=The man behind Nigeria's new separatist movement |language=en-GB |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-39793185 |access-date=2019-05-13}}</ref> It was declared a terrorist organization by the Nigerian government in 2017 under the Nigerian Terrorism Act but the declaration was nullified by a High Court sitting in Enugu in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Proscription, designation of IPOB as terror organisation, unconstitutional – Court |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/10/breaking-proscription-designation-of-ipob-as-terror-organisation-unconstitutional-court/ |website=Vanguard News}}</ref> As of May 2022, the [[United Kingdom]] started denying asylum to members of IPOB who allegedly engaged in human rights abuses, though the U.K. government clarified that IPOB had not been designated as a terrorist organisation.<ref>{{cite news |title=We Didn't Designate IPOB As Terrorist Organisation – UK {{!}} Channels Television |url=https://www.channelstv.com/2022/05/06/we-didnt-designate-ipob-as-terrorist-organisation-uk/amp/ |work=www.channelstv.com}}</ref> === Counter Claims about IPOB === It is said that Barrister Emeka Emekesiri is the true founder of IPOB<ref>{{Cite web |last=Agbo |first=Dennis |date=November 7, 2020 |title=Biafra existed 500 yrs before Nigeria was created — Emekesiri, original founder of IPOB |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/11/biafra-existed-500-yrs-before-nigeria-was-created-emekesiri-original-founder-of-ipob/ |website=vanguardngr}}</ref>. He, along with others, appointed [[Nnamdi Kanu]] to lead the media department of IPOB. After being expelled by the Supreme Elders of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu started his own organization called IPOB LTD. In this organization, Nnamdi Kanu serves as the Director, while Uche Mefor is the assistant Director. The esteemed retired Justice Ozobu, Dr. Ikedife<ref>{{Cite web |last=Emeka Mamah & Nwabueze Okonkwo |first=Okonkwo |date=April 10, 2017 |title=Restructuring won’t stop agitation for Biafra — IPOB council of elders |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/04/restructuring-wont-stop-agitation-biafra-ipob-council-elders/ |website=vanguardngr.com}}</ref>, the former President of [[Ọhanaeze Ndigbo|Ohananeze Ndigbo]], retired Colonel Achuzie, a former [[Biafran Armed Forces|Biafra]] war Lord and Barrister Dibie Ojukwu, the first son of [[Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu|Odimegwu Ojukwu]], formed the Supreme Council of Elders of IPOB<ref>{{Cite web |last=DUMP2 |first=DUMP2 |date=August 11, 2013 |title=COUNCIL OF ELDERS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF BIAFRA |url=https://radiobiafra.co/council-of-elders-of-indigenous-people-of-biafra/ |website=radiobiafra}}</ref>. These well-known Igbo leaders expelled Nnamdi Kanu for defrauding IPOB. The business entity of IPOB that Nnamdi Kanu runs has deceived and manipulated thousands of its followers, leading to their untimely deaths through lies, deceit, and brainwashing. IPOB has criticized the Nigerian federal government for poor investment, political alienation, inequitable resource distribution, ethnic marginalization, and heavy military presence, extrajudicial killings in the South-Eastern, South-Central and parts of North-Central regions of the country.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/world/africa/la-fg-nigeria-war-legacy-20190430-story.html|title=The dream of Biafra lives on in underground Nigerian radio broadcasts|last=Mahr|first=Oluwatosin Adeshokan, Krista|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=30 April 2019|access-date=2019-05-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/what-biafra-and-why-are-some-nigerians-calling-independence-401164|title=What is Biafra and Why are Some Nigerians Calling for Independence?|last=EST|first=Conor Gaffey On 12/7/15 at 7:22 AM|date=2015-12-07|website=Newsweek|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-13}}</ref> The organization rose to prominence in the mid-2010s and is now the largest Biafran independence organization by membership. In recent years, it has gained significant media attention for becoming a frequent target of political crackdowns by the [[Federal government of Nigeria|Nigerian government]]. It also has numerous sites and communication channels serving as the only trusted social apparatus educating and inculcating first hand information and news to its members.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nigeria: At least 150 peaceful pro-Biafra activists killed in chilling crackdown |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2016/11/peaceful-pro-biafra-activists-killed-in-chilling-crackdown/ |website=Amnesty International |date=24 November 2016 |access-date=5 June 2020}}</ref> Line 97 ⟶ 102: ==See also== <references /> * [[Radio Biafra]] * [[Republic of Biafra]] * [https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/11/biafra-existed-500-yrs-before-nigeria-was-created-emekesiri-original-founder-of-ipob/ Biafra existed 500 yrs before Nigeria was created — Emekesiri, original founder of IPOB] * [https://radiobiafra.co/council-of-elders-of-indigenous-people-of-biafra/ COUNCIL OF ELDERS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF BIAFRA] * <references /> * [[Nigerian Civil War]] *[[Flag of Biafra|The Flag of Biafra]] | |||