Vox Pop • Created September 23, 2017 02:00

Should IPOB be labelled a terrorist group?

Gabriel John Paul, 42, Cleaning Services, Bauchi The designation of IPOB as a terrorist organisation is a measure that should have been taken long ago. Since its advent, the organisation has shown its true colour as a secessionist organisation which is out to destroy the unity of the country. It has been said over and […]

Should IPOB be labelled a terrorist group?
Should IPOB be labelled a terrorist group?

Gabriel John Paul, 42, Cleaning Services, Bauchi

The designation of IPOB as a terrorist organisation is a measure that should have been taken long ago. Since its advent, the organisation has shown its true colour as a secessionist organisation which is out to destroy the unity of the country. It has been said over and over again, that Nigeria does not need another crisis, especially with the ones we have at hand which we are trying to contain. The military is trying to tackle the remnants of Boko Haram, fight kidnappings, armed robbery and other criminalities and then suddenly Nnamdi Kanu and his IPOB, grew gradually and we are now seeing the consequences. Anybody saying that the proscription of IPOB and its designation as a terrorist organisation is improper or unconstitutional should tell us the laws the organisation follows to commit its atrocities.

The supporters of Nnamdi Kanu and his actions should take a heed from what happened in South Sudan and elsewhere. Having your country because of hatred for others does not guarantee peace or prosperity. No man, tribe or creed will exist in isolation. We need one another to live in this world, so we must all learn to live and let others live despite our differences.

Nande Felix, 33, Chef, Benue 

I have not seen it as the right way to go because personally, I grew up with Nigeria unified for a long time. This issue of Biafra has been going on for a long time. The government should either let them be on their own or devise a better way to tackle this issue.

Mohammed Shamsuddeen Abubakar, 35, Electrician, Bauchi

I wonder why people should even have a second thought or demand due process in proscribing IPOB or designating it as a terrorist organisation. Were they not in Nigeria when Nnamdi Kanu and his cohorts were threatening other Nigerians, including its president? Where were they, including the Senate president, when Nnamdi Kanu was spewing his hate speeches, denigrating other tribes and calling them names?.

If we want to talk about following due process it should not be on matters that have grave security implications like what IPOB has been doing over the years. You are not supposed to be a coward in the face of a real threat by an ethnic or regional group like Nnamdi Kanu and his ilk. Nigeria has exhibited a lot of maturity and understanding in dealing with IPOB’s shenanigans. Do you think with all the evidence against Kanu, his life would be spared for long if it was during a military regime? He would have been history by now. 

If we are really serious about dealing with this threat and similar ones, Kanu and his sponsors should not only be designated as terrorists, but they should be put where they belong to according to the nation’s laws regarding their offences. As a youth, I see Kanu as one of the lost elements of our generation. One cannot be wiser than his elders.

Abbas S. Gungura, 55, Journalist, Bauchi

Boko Haram started like IPOB, non-violent but later turned deadly and that was the biggest mistake the authorities did at that time and we are still living with that mistake. Nigeria cannot afford to make the same mistake twice. IPOB had its time to reflect and at least operate with little decorum, but they dared the authorities. Nigerian military knows what a threat is and they acted on orders. One cannot expect a soldier to be diplomatic if there is a real threat to lives and territorial integrity of the nation. IPOB is a terrorist organisation and anybody doubting that is either ignorant or out-rightly mischievous. 

Chukwu Christopher, 31, Biotechnologist

There are reasons why a group is declared as terrorist group. IPOB have always maintained that they are a non-violent group. Also, IPOB is somewhat attached to a certain tribe, so if you tag IPOB as a terrorist group it might make other people from that tribe feel insecure. So it is not okay. We need to look at the activities of the organisation and so far I think they have made some claims or abusive statements to provoke the federal government. However, we are in a democratic system and the bill for freedom of speech has been passed such that an individual can be able to air his mind freely. I think the best way to deal with them is to disregard them but if you keep looking their way you are giving them attention and making them feel important. Being forceful might just aggravate the situation.
 
Kunle Omotosho, 25, Engineer, Osun
 
As a nation we all have human rights, so everything bothers down to that. As a good leader I will advise the president to sit down with them and figure out what really is the problem and what they want. I don’t think they should be declared as terrorists.
 
Ndubuisi Kene, 41, Businessman, Enugu
 
I don’t think they should be called terrorists because they have not really taken up arms against the government. I advise the government to find a different approach to the matter.
 
Emmanuel Ede, 25, Abuja
 
First of all we have to look at what they are asking for. From what we all understand, they are against marginalisation, hence demanding for their own independence. But come to think of it, if that is what they want there is actually a way to go about it. IPOB didn’t ask for dialogue initially. They were using terms like “we are coming to Abuja to take Buhari’s head. If anybody takes Kanu’s head we are going to burn down Nigeria.” These are statements that no serious nation should take lightly, and they went ahead to form the Biafra Secret Service. The military action is legal and IPOB should be declared as terrorists. The idea behind IPOB is right but the execution is faulty.
 
Victor Adenira, 32, Real Estate Agent, Abuja
 

I see IPOB more like an interest group. The way the government interacts with them will determine if they can be referred to as a terrorist group because in the first place they didn’t attack anybody and they didn’t take up arms to destroy properties in the society. Military brutality may turn things into something we wouldn’t like. Nnamdi Kanu has been using some vulgar words that are not advisable in this instance, so I will suggest a negotiation or sit down with the government, to figure out a common ground for both parties.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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