The Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) has bemoaned the ongoing demolition of the popular Alaba International Market in Lagos by the state government, and consequently called on the traders there who are predominantly Igbo to consider relocating to their South East homeland.
In a media statement by its director of Media and Publicity, Comrade Emma Powerful, IPOB reiterated its earlier think-home “clarion call for Ndigbo abroad to come back home and invest, we the global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably lead by Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu join other well-meaning Biafrans to call on our people in the Western and Northern Regions of Nigeria to take their investments to Igbo Land (ala Igbo) to avoid destruction and this sustained economic profiling… “
IPOB, he added “sympathizes with our brothers and sisters in Lagos, who are currently victims of ethnic profiling and prejudice against Ndigbo and all Biafrans in Nigeria.
“Biafrans have been victims of human and economic destruction from fellow Nigerians right from the amalgamation of the three major nations into Nigeria by Britain up to today. It is therefore high time Biafrans say enough is enough!
“Biafrans have lost countless lives and properties in their many decades of existence as Nigerians through hate-propelled religious and tribal riots in Northern Nigeria.
“We came to understand that they are removing those buildings wrongly built on top of canal but following the hatred Yoruba politicians have against Ndigbo our people must be prepared because they will come for other buildings within the market. “
“IPOB call on our people to be ready they are coming. But those evil men championing the hateful onslaught will regret their actions soon.
“During and after the 2023 elections in Nigeria, Biafrans in Yoruba Land have been targeted for annihilation, economic sabotage and crippling due to political bigotry and fear of fair competition. The ongoing destruction of major business places of Ndigbo and Biafrans in general, like portions of Alaba International Market, is one of their planned strategies to put a lot of hardworking Biafran youths into poverty. This is part of calculated strategies now being rolled out in phases.
Nevertheless, we are resilient spirited people whose businesses are doing much better than those outside Biafra Land. Together, we can provide our own vibrant economy that will be the envy of the world. Nigeria has time without number shown how much they despise us, and we must not despise ourselves by allowing them that pleasure. If we survived with their wicked £20 policy (the amount of money they gave every Igbo person who had huge amounts in Nigerian banks before the war, and three years of brutal ethnic cleansing civil war, but bounced back and built Nigeria up within 50 years, imagine what we can achieve if we concentrate on building up Biafra Land alone.
The statement lamented that “many Yoruba elders are not speaking up against the ethnic attacks on Ndigbo and all Biafrans. However, we are urging Yoruba politicians not to destroy Biafrans’ properties but give them time to take back their properties and their movable assets”
