The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have been known to harbor the desire to take control of Lagos State for quite some time, with the idea having persisted since before Nigeria even gained its independence.
During the Civil War, Biafran soldiers initially focused on defending their own territory, but later attempted to seize Lagos and the Southwest. However, they were ultimately repelled at Ore.
Unfortunately, the group has not abandoned its desire to take control of Lagos, and in October 2020, the actions of Nnamdi Kanu’s followers during the EndSARS protests only served to underscore this fact.
The EndSARS protests were initially a peaceful demonstration against police brutality and extrajudicial killings by the now-defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), but they quickly spiraled out of control when some individuals began looting, vandalizing, and setting fire to businesses, personal property, and government buildings.
IPOB members, who had infiltrated the protests, were among those who engaged in such destructive behavior. They targeted the personal property of Tinubu, who is considered by many to be a political godfather in Lagos State, and also destroyed government property belonging to the Lagos State government. This behavior is a clear indication of the group’s intentions and is certainly not in line with the peaceful conduct that should be associated with legitimate protests.
Furthermore, some IPOB members have also been known to pose as supporters of the Labour Party or Peter Obi, a former Governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 Nigerian presidential election. These individuals are claiming to seek revenge for those allegedly killed during the Lekki Toll Gate shootings on October 20th, 2020 by votes out Yoruba leaders political parties. Ignorantly, many Yoruba youths fell for IPOB propaganda.
Meanwhile, those IPOB masquerading as Peter Obi supporter hypocrisy is evident in their refusal to seek the alike justice for the 250 youths killed and dumped in the Okwusu River in Anambra when Obi was governor and failed to act.
The claim by some Igbo individuals that Yoruba land is “no man’s land” is an affront to the Yoruba people and is tantamount to a form of witchcraft.
Such a claim not only ignores the rich history and culture of the Yoruba people but is also a clear attempt to take over their land. Such audacious and disrespectful behavior should not be tolerated.
It is important to remember that Nigeria is a country made up of diverse ethnic groups, and every ethnic group has a right to live and thrive in any part of the country they choose.
However, this right should not be used as a pretext to claim the land of another group. Rather, it should be used as an opportunity to promote unity and understanding among different ethnic groups in Nigeria.
It is also important to note that while IPOB’s actions are often portrayed as being representative of the entire Igbo people, this is far from the truth.
The vast majority of Igbo people do not support IPOB’s separatist agenda and are instead focused on contributing to the development of Nigeria as a whole. It is only a small minority that is actively seeking to undermine Nigeria’s unity and territorial integrity.
The desire of IPOB to take over Lagos State is not a new development, and their actions during the EndSARS protests have only served to highlight their intentions.
The claim by some Igbo individuals that Yoruba land is “no man’s land” is insulting and disrespectful to the Yoruba people, and should not be tolerated.
It is important to promote unity and understanding among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups, and to resist attempts by any group to undermine Nigeria’s territorial integrity.