The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has stated that the Nigerian government can effectively end the activities of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) by banning the Miyetti Allah cattle breeders’ association and abolishing open grazing. Emma Powerful, a spokesman for the group, emphasized that the ESN will continue to defend the Southeast region as long as Miyetti Allah remains operational.
In a recent statement, IPOB underscored the significance of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, and the ESN in thwarting the actions of violent herders from the Sahel region. The group asserted that the ESN was established to confront the “excesses” of these herders and to safeguard the ancestral lands of the Igbo people.
IPOB’s statement highlighted a growing concern about land encroachment in various parts of Nigeria. It pointed out that much of Oyo State’s land has come under the control of herders from the North, a situation that has sparked considerable unrest among local populations. The group criticized the current state of affairs, questioning why Yoruba individuals now fear entering areas like Gambari in Oyo State, which they claim has been renamed and occupied by non-indigenous herders.
The group urged all Easterners to appreciate the protective role of the ESN in countering what they perceive as a systematic invasion by herders. They drew parallels to the Yoruba security outfit, Amotekun, stating that just as Amotekun aims to protect Yoruba farmland and forests, the ESN exists to defend the people of Biafraland.
IPOB’s message was clear: as long as they are active, they will resist any attempt by Fulani herdsmen to seize land in Biafraland, asserting that the imposition of such conditions will not be tolerated in their region. The group concluded that the decision to allow herdsmen to dominate farmland is a choice for other Nigerians, but such a reality will not unfold in Igbo territories.
