The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has issued a stern warning to the Abia State Police Commissioner, accusing the police of targeting community leaders in Nkpa, Isikwuato Local Government Area, based on what the separatist group describes as false accusations. The warning, issued in a strongly worded statement by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, marks a significant escalation in the group’s ongoing conflict with security agencies over perceived injustices against the Igbo community.
According to IPOB, the Abia State Police Commissioner and his officers summoned several community leaders from Nkpa over allegations involving the killing of a Fulani herdsman. IPOB claims that these leaders—including youth leader Ernest Lekweke, Bishop-Elect Ugoo Nwosu, Women Leader of Nkpa Community, and Community Vigilante Commander Okechukwu Felix Okoro—were subjected to prolonged interrogations and coerced into confessing to a crime that did not occur. The group alleged that the police commissioner and his officers acted on information provided by Fulani herders, whom IPOB accuses of being responsible for a string of violent attacks in the region, including kidnappings and sexual violence.
Powerful, in the statement released on Saturday, condemned the police’s actions, describing them as part of a broader strategy to intimidate and destabilize the Nkpa community. “The IPOB intelligence unit has confirmed that Abia State Police Commissioner and his group of clueless and unprofessional officers summoned the leaders of Nkpa Community for defending their community against the murderous Fulani terrorists who rape their women and kidnap people for ransom,” Powerful stated. He accused the police of being complicit in a false alarm designed to justify the invasion of the community by Fulani militants.
IPOB’s allegations paint a picture of systemic bias and complicity, suggesting that Nigerian security agencies are aligned with Fulani interests at the expense of indigenous communities. The group questioned why Fulani leaders are rarely held accountable for the numerous violent attacks attributed to herders in the region. “Why are Fulani leaders not being interrogated for the numerous attacks perpetrated by herders in the area?” Powerful asked. “The Nigerian Police is pressuring the people to accept the case of Fulani murder and to produce those responsible.”
The separatist organization went further, warning of dire consequences if harm comes to the summoned individuals or the Nkpa community. “The Abia State Police Commissioner must stop provoking Ndigbo,” the statement read. “If anything untoward happens to those people they interrogated and the Nkpa Community, the terrorists-sympathetic Police Commissioner will be held responsible.” IPOB’s stance reflects a deep-seated distrust of security agencies, which it accuses of failing to protect Igbo communities from what it labels “state-sponsored terrorism.”
IPOB’s critique extends beyond the police to the broader judicial system, accusing Nigerian authorities of colluding in an agenda to destabilize indigenous communities in favor of Fulani interests. Powerful condemned what he termed “state-sponsored terrorism,” arguing that the Nigerian government has consistently failed to address the activities of Fulani herdsmen, who have been linked to violence across the country. The separatist organization insisted that its paramilitary wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), would continue to protect Biafra land from external threats without seeking approval from local authorities.
The group’s stance is rooted in a long-standing grievance over perceived injustices against the Igbo community. IPOB referenced a recent case in Yobe State, where a Fulani judge sentenced a man named Sunday Jackson to death for defending himself against a Fulani terrorist. Powerful drew parallels between that case and the current situation in Nkpa, warning that similar injustices could occur unless action is taken. “Biafra Land is not Yobe State where Mr. Sunday Jackson was sentenced to death by a Fulani Judge for defending himself against a Fulani terrorist,” he stated.
IPOB’s call to action is clear: it has urged Igbos both at home and abroad to mobilize resources for self-defense against what it describes as an impending invasion by Fulani militants. The separatist organization has also directed its ESN operatives to increase security measures in the affected areas to prevent further conflicts. These directives underscore the group’s determination to protect its people, even as it continues to push back against what it perceives as systemic discrimination.
The Abia State Police Command has yet to respond to IPOB’s accusations, leaving the community and its leaders in a precarious position. The silence from the police has only fueled fears of bias and intimidation, further entrenching the rift between IPOB and security agencies. As tensions rise, the situation in Nkpa has become a litmus test for the state’s ability—or inability—to maintain peace and order in the face of escalating ethnic and communal strife.
For many observers, the unfolding events highlight the complex interplay of ethnicity, security, and governance in Nigeria. While IPOB’s claims may be viewed as inflammatory by some, they resonate deeply with communities that feel marginalized and unprotected. The group’s warnings serve as a stark reminder of the fragility of Nigeria’s pluralistic society and the urgent need for dialogue and reconciliation to prevent further bloodshed.
As the standoff persists, the eyes of the nation are on the Abia State Police Commissioner and the broader security apparatus. Will the police commissioner heed IPOB’s warning, or will the situation spiral further out of control? The answers to these questions will shape not only the fate of Nkpa but also the trajectory of Nigeria’s fragile peace.
