*The group is talking rubbish, presidency source says
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have raised alarm of a plot by “enemies of Biafra” to assassinate the British High Commissioner, Catriona Laing, in the South East Region and blame it on the group.
They therefore advised the High Commissioner “to be more conscious of her environment” and “to shelve her regular visits to different parts of the Nigeria country-side especially the Biafraland otherwise referred to as South East.”
IPOB, in a statement by its Spokesperson, Emma Powerful, said “the reason for this sincere security advise is to save her life. Despite her hatred for Biafra and Igbos in particular we have optimal respect and value for sanctity of life, especially visitors to our land.
But sources in the presidency dismissed the claim, saying that the group always speaks “unsubstantiated rubbish and spews unfounded allegations”.
The source, who pleaded for anonymity because he was not authorised to speak, said it is a shame that a group which has been branded as a terrisist organisation should be using propaganda to cury favour.
“But we want to tell them that delving into such a dangerous area by brining in a diplomat into their devilish agenda proves how terrible their minds work.
I” their own interest, they should desist from causing confusion and stoking divisive tendencies which the hallmark of their process. But, this will not work. We can o ly wish them what they wish other people,” the source said.
But, Powerful had stated: “In view of the recently intercepted Intel by our M-Branch the IPOB Intelligence Unit Department, there’s an orchestrated conspiracy to perform a sacrifice big and powerful enough to strengthen the potency of the British hatred against the Igbos and Biafra. Such high profile plan is zeroed towards using a highly placed person capable of making a headline news globally as an scapegoat.
“The leadership of IPOB do hereby advise that Ms Catriona Liang must as a matter of life and death suspend all her planned activities involving travels within Biafran Territories.
“Those that are threatened by Biafra restoration project has perfected evil plans to assassinate Ms. Catriona Liang, the British Envoy on Biafra soil as a quick and cogent reason for Britain to disengage their weapons supplies to Ukraine and concentrate same towards Nigeria to be used against Biafrans.
“Their aim is to quash the agitation for Self Determination and to kill as many Indigenous Biafrans as possible and other residents in Biafra land.
“We want to make it unequivocally clear to the International Community that IPOB is a non-violent Self Determination movement and we understand the usefulness of diplomacy and we respect diplomatic relations.
“In spite of Nigeria government’s unprovoked attacks, arrest, torture, illegal detentions, rape, killings and forceful disaperance of our family members especially oue youth, IPOB has not changed our peaceful non-violent agitation into armed struggle.
“IPOB does not wish the British Envoy death or dead, however if she ignores this advise and walk into the trap already set by enemies of Biafra struggle, that will be considered suicidal.
“We also want to let those masterminding the assassination plot of a British Envoy on Biafran soil to understand that nothing and I mean absolutely nothing will slow down let alone halt the Biafra restoration project.
“We therefore, advise the British Envoy never to loose your guard even while we’ve successfully bursted their plan.
“It is worthy to note that we had never attacked British persons, citizens, Institutions, investments and properties of any kind, and we do not have such intention now or in the future notwithstanding being at the receiving end of the British unpleasant attitudes, Igbophobic, Biafraphobic and stringent policies.
“Garba Shehu and Co-cabals hatched the plan to tarnish the image of ESN and IPOB and they decided to replicate what they did with the murder of the two Nigeria Army couples who were murdered last April.
We call on Garuba Shehu, the Aso Rock theatre art Director to choose another location, procure another format as those intercepted would never be released.
“The British woman called Catriona Laing, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria is not our problem, if Nigeria Presidency have ran out of ideas on how to stop Biafra agitation why not try Referendum?
“The UK Government must understand that IPOB’s grudges against them has not reached to the extent that warrants assassination of their citizens in Biafraland, in Nigeria or in any other part of the World for that matter.
“Whosoever plans to invite Catriona Liang to Biafraland must provide adequate security enough to protect her and counter that which was planned in Aso-Rock in a meeting concluded on the 11.07.2022; 21:35hrs in Abuja.”
