The governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has described the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist group and signed an executive order banning its activities in the in the state.
Media aide to the governor, Mr. Kelvin Ebiri, said in a statement that Wike had, in a broadcast yesterday in Port Harcourt, maintained that the remains the home to all tribes and ethnic nationalities.
He said the government “acknowledges and appreciates the enormous contributions from non-indigenes to the political, social and economic development of the state.”
According to the statement, the state government will neither accept nor allow any individual or group from within and outside to violate the peace, endanger lives and property under any guise.
“The state government is opposed to the presence and activities of the legally-proscribed and anarchic IPOB and whatever it stands for in Rivers State.
“And so, let it be understood that we have nothing against all or any specific tribe and will continue to live in peace with people of all other tribal extractions residing or doing business in Rivers State.
“But we have everything against the presence and activities of the legally-proscribed IPOB and whatever that group stands for in Rivers State.
“This is clearly a terrorist group which existence, creed, mission and activities are strongly denounced even by the Government and peoples of the southeastern states of the country.
“I have, therefore, signed the executive order to reinforce the total ban on IPOB and its activities in Rivers State or any part thereof and nothing will stop us from enforcing this ban in its entirety,’’ he said. Ebiri also stated that the governor “directed security agencies and the chairmen of local government areas to fish out and resolutely deal with any member of IPOB found in any community following the executive order and other legal instruments.”
