The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has called on Igbo politicians to put aside political infighting and work together to address the root causes of insecurity in the Southeast region, which, according to the group, are well known to all.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, IPOB spokesperson, Emma Powerful listed the continued detention of their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, chronic youth unemployment, and the shoot-at-sight policy employed by security forces as the primary factors contributing to the insecurity in the region.

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“IPOB urges the politicians of the Southeast to stop their political witch-hunts and backbiting and join hands in addressing the well-known issues fueling the unrest in the region,” the statement said.

“All hands must be on deck to mitigate the situation and protect our people from further violence, before enemies exploit this situation to complete the ‘holocaust’.”

Powerful also accused government-backed criminals of being behind much of the unrest in the Southeast, which he described as “restiveness” fueled by the activities of these groups.

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“Southeast politicians should wake up and work together to end insecurity in the region,” he said. “They should stop sponsoring armed robbers and political thugs to discredit IPOB’s legitimate activities.”

He questioned why Southeast governors have not followed through on their pledge to meet with President Bola Tinubu to seek the release of Nnamdi Kanu.

“They have failed in this singular undertaking because they seem to benefit directly from the violence and mayhem through increased federal security allocations,” Powerful claimed.

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“The release of our leader would bring an end to the criminal activities of these fifth columnists, so why the delay if they have no ulterior motives?”

The group suggested that some governors may be in collusion with forces opposed to the Igbo people.

They accused these politicians of working with local and foreign elements to diminish the push for Biafran independence and undermine IPOB’s role in advocating for a UN-supervised referendum.

“The Southeast was once known as the safest region in Nigeria until ethnic hatred prompted the previous administration to launch deadly attacks in our land,” the statement continued, citing the 2016 Nkpor massacre and the subsequent Operation Python Dance as examples.

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“The Federal Government, aided by certain cowardly politicians, has entrenched insecurity in Igboland.”

IPOB further criticized the reluctance of Igbo governors to push for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, calling it a tactic to weaken the movement.

“We are aware that two serving governors and one former governor have vowed to continue opposing Kanu’s release unless IPOB is irreversibly weakened,” Powerful claimed.

“They know that freeing Onyendu will immediately end the insecurity in our homeland, which they benefit from.”

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The group called for an end to political divisions among the Igbo people and urged a united front in fighting crime and ensuring the safety of the region.

“We demand that the political bickering among Ndigbo stop so that we can all work together to separate the common criminals from legitimate agitators,” the statement said.

IPOB also reiterated its commitment to maintaining peace in the region, particularly during the upcoming festive period.

“IPOB is a global peaceful movement and will ensure that peace prevails in the region,” the statement concluded.

Sokoto State has raised alarms over the emergence of a new criminal group called LAKURAWAS, which is reportedly active in five local government areas of the state.

The state’s Deputy Governor, Idris Mohammed Gobir, expressed his concern during a visit from participants of Course 33 at the National Defence College (NDC) from Abuja, who were on a study tour of Sokoto.

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Gobir described LAKURAWAS as a faith-based group with radical ideals, known for possessing advanced weaponry and engaging in various criminal activities.

He noted that the group’s rise comes at a time when Sokoto is already dealing with the pervasive problem of banditry.

“The emergence of this group is alarming, and we are actively working with security agencies to address the growing threat it poses,” Gobir stated.

He emphasized that both the state government and federal security forces are collaborating closely to protect the residents of Sokoto from the rising violence.

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Gobir also provided an update on the state’s security efforts, underscoring the importance of ongoing initiatives aimed at restoring peace and stability.

He expressed hope that the study tour by the NDC delegation would offer valuable recommendations for managing the security situation effectively.

Leading the delegation, Air Vice Marshal Titus Zuwahu Dauda explained that the National Defence College, founded in 1992, prepares high-ranking military, police, and strategic agency officers for top-level responsibilities.

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He said that the NDC had graduated 2,982 participants, including officers from 30 countries across Africa and Asia.

At the conclusion of their study tour, Dauda said the NDC team would compile both oral and written reports on their findings, which would be shared with the Sokoto state government to aid in addressing the security challenges.

The National Grid has experienced another collapse, once again plunging the country into widespread power outages.

This marks yet another failure in October, following several similar incidents throughout the month.

Despite repeated assurances from the Federal Government for a permanent solution, the situation remains unresolved.

As of 2:35 pm, hourly generation data revealed that none of the Power Generation Companies were producing any power.

Justice Oyewole Adeyeye, the Chief Judge of Ekiti State, has passed away following a brief illness.

While the exact circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear, sources confirmed he died on Monday.

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Justice Adeyeye was appointed as Chief Judge of Ekiti State by former Governor Kayode Fayemi, who swore him into office on October 11, 2021. He was born in 1960.

In a statement announcing his death, Adegoke Olanike, the Chief Registrar of the Ekiti State Judiciary, expressed deep sadness at the loss.

The statement, which was also signed by Public Relations Officer Mr. Oba Olayiwola Michael, highlighted Justice Adeyeye’s distinguished career and his commitment to fairness, equity, and justice.

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“He was a highly respected jurist whose contributions to both the judiciary and the development of Ekiti State are immeasurable. His legacy will be greatly missed,” the statement read.

Further details regarding his funeral arrangements will be provided in due course.

Justice Adeyeye’s legal career spanned several decades. After being called to the Nigerian Bar in 1986, he began his professional journey as a state counsel in the old Ondo State Civil Service before moving to Ekiti State in 1996.

He later became a member of the Judiciary Service Commission and was appointed to the Ekiti State High Court bench in 2002.

In a notable incident last year, Justice Adeyeye was hospitalized after part of the state high court building collapsed while he was in his office.

Though no lives were lost, the Chief Judge sustained serious injuries in the incident.

Photo of the late Judge

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A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the case against 76 individuals who were charged in connection with the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest.

The court ruling came after M.D. Abubakar, counsel to the Attorney General of the Federation, filed an application to take over and discontinue the legal proceedings against the protesters.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who presided over the case, granted the application and struck out the charges, effectively ending the legal battle for the 76 accused persons.