IPOB back Niger Delta avenger.

IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu

The Indigenous People of Biafra on Sunday expressed support for the Niger Delta Avengers.

IPOB described the NDA, which has crippled oil production, and undermined Nigeria’s economy, by blowing up pipelines, as its “kith and kin”.

The pro-Biafra secessionist group threw its weight behind the activities of the Niger Delta militant group in a statement signed by its spokespersons, Emma Mmezu and Dr. Chukwuemeka Iroanya.

IPOB distanced itself from other pro-Biafra groups, which they said were not in support of the activities of the NDA.

“The Indigenous People of Biafra under the leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu hereby state that we support our kith and kin – the Niger Delta Avengers, who are fighting for the freedom of our people from the enslaving Nigerian Government.

“We want to place it on record that IPOB has no connection with some groups who are claiming on the pages of Nigerian newspapers that they do not support our fellow freedom fighters – the NDA,” IPOB said in the statement.

IPOB said the Niger Delta Avengers was not fighting for resource control and a restoration of the amnesty programme, rather it was fighting for Biafra.

“The NDA have consistently stated that the release of IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is a precondition for any discussion with Nigeria,” it said.

“Unfortunately, the Nigerian government has swept this demand under the carpet while magnifying the notion of amnesty payments and resource control as reasons for the NDA’s actions.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the NDA is fighting for the freedom of the people of Biafra and not for amnesty payment or for resource control as some commentators would like to believe.”

According to IPOB, if the secession plan is successful, resources will be controlled by the owners of the land where those resources are located.

Amnesty for elites

IPOB also faulted calls for amnesty to be extended to the Avengers.

It said, “Amnesty is associated with criminality and a people who are fighting for their freedom should not be unjustly termed criminals.

“The notion and talk of amnesty for our own freedom fighters (the NDA) is a misnomer and should be taken out of any discourse.

“On the contrary, amnesty should be granted to the elite who unjustly appropriated oil and gas wells and other resources to themselves and their cohorts to the detriment of the masses,” the group added.