Nigerian Army Makes U-Turn, Says IPOB Not A Terrorist Organization

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, on Monday evening, denied the reports that the military ever tagged the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, a terrorist organisation.

He said rather, what the army did was to make a pronouncement on IPOB which, according to him, was not “a declaration per se.”

He said what the federal government is doing regarding the group is the right thing.
Recall that few hours ago, the President of the Nigerian Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki had condemned the tagging of IPOB as terrorist organisation, saying it was unconstitutional.


Saraki had also faulted the South-East governors for proscribing the activities of IPOB in the region. Recall that army’s Director of Defence Information, Major General John Enenche, had pronounced that IPOB was a terrorist organisation after a reported clash between military personnel and IPOB members in Umuahia, Abia state.

However, Buratai said the army did not categorize IPOB as terrorist organisation but that the Defence Headquarters just made a pronouncement.

Buratai gave the statement while speaking during the official launch of Operation Python Dance II in Abakaliki. According to him,


“You have to get it very clear. First of all, what the Defence Headquarters did was to make pronouncement. It wasn’t a declaration per se. But this has given room for the right step to be taken. I think the government is doing the right thing.

“It is not that we are overstepping our bounds. We are still within the limits. And I ensure you that what the military said was to set the ball rolling and to bring the awareness to the public that this is what this organization is all about. I’m happy that the government has done the right thing right now.”