The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has reacted to allegation made by President Muhammadu Buhari, that the group is vandalising oil pipelines and other infrastructure in the oil producing region of the country.
WITHIN NGERIA had reported that Buhari made the allegation during an interview with Bloomberg while lamenting that criminality was hindering oil production.
He added that the country had stepped up its efforts in combating oil theft and vandalism.
He stated, “Criminality and terrorism in oil-producing regions hamper production, and it would help if our western allies designated IPOB as a terrorist group, given their complicity in damage to pipelines and infrastructure.”
He said government efforts in combating oil theft were succeeding
“These efforts are making an impact: wells that had to be closed due to criminality have now re-opened. With these efforts, OPEC has raised our quota for next month.
“We have invested in our security forces, including the $1 billion military deal with the U.S. for the acquisition of A-29 Super Tucano aircraft.
“These efforts are making an impact: wells that had to be closed due to criminality have now re-opened. With these efforts, OPEC has raised our quota for next month.”
Speaking with PUNCH, IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, dismissed the President’s allegation that the group was vandalising pipelines, describing the claim as “funny” and “laughable.”
Powerful stated that the group’s only interest was the actualisation of the “Biafra freedom struggle” and nothing else.
According to Powerful, IPOB’s leadership was studying Buhari’s comments and would respond to him appropriately.
A foremost Igbo intellectual body, Akeanga, described as faulty, the demand by the President that the West should designate IPOB as a terrorist group.