FG supports decision to brand group a terrorist organisation - Lai Mohammed

The Federal Government firmly stands behind the militarys decision to categorise the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organisation, and the proscription of its activities by the

This was disclosed by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed while he was speaking on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) on Tuesday, September 19, 2017, on a programme called "Good Morning Nigeria".

The minister said the group's campaign of divisiveness and recent involvement in violent conflicts against the country's security operatives are enough reasons to consider them as enemy combatants.

Despite the public criticism that has trailed the army's decision to brand the group as a terrorist organisation, the minister insisted that the group could have caused a lot of damage to national security without the significant involvement of the military.

He said, "There are a lot of arguments regarding the constitutionality of the action of the military and the South East governors.

"People must realise that we are dealing with issue of national security and I do not think that the military and the governors should fold their arms while the country is set ablaze.

"I have heard a lot of comments as to whether the military has the right to declare IPOB, a terrorist group.

"What the military has done is to catalogue all the activities of IPOB, which are not different from that of terrorists groups.

"IPOB activities are not jokes. If there have not been the proactive actions on the part of the military and the South East governors, there would have been retaliations from other regions and the entire country will be set on fire.

"We cannot be talking of semantics or procedure when the nation is moving towards crises and precipices. It is only in a Banana Republic that you can see non state actors doing what IPOB is doing.

"The actions by the military and the governors should be seen from the perspective of ensuring internal security and averting chaos."

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After a week of unrest between IPOB members and the Nigerian Army in Abia state, the separatist group was officially branded a "militant terrorist organisation" in a statement by Director, Defence Information (DDI), Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, on Friday, September 15.

This was followed up by an official proscription of activities of the group by the South East Governors' Forum later on Friday after an emergency meeting in Enugu.

Chairman of the forum, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi requested the group and other such groups to articulate their grievances and send to the forum.

On Monday, September 18, Senate President Bukola Saraki dismissed the categorisation of the group as a terrorist organisation, calling it unconstitutional, and asking President Muhammadu Buhari to use the proper channels to initiate the process.