The Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, has called on Italian government to terminate the sales of military aircraft to the Nigerian government, noting that previous arms and ammunition sold to Nigeria in the past were used to target innocent and peaceful people.
In a statement by the media and publicity secretary, Mr. Emma Powerful, on Wednesday, IPOB recalled that In 2021, the Nigerian government purchased super tucano Jets from the United State of America to fight terrorism in Nigeria, but on delivery, it was deployed in the eastern region of the country to bomb unarmed people of Igbo community.
The group said the Italian government was being deceived like the United States of America in 2021.
The statement reads in part: “We call on all civilized nations to stop further sales of military hardware and software to Nigeria because of their pretense of fighting terrorists. The Nigeria government has created the terrorist groups that they are pretending to have been fighting in order to displace Indigenous nations and allow individuals in power to loot the country’s funds. Therefore, we appeal to the Italian government to stop the military aircraft purchase deal they entered into with the Nigeria government. We also ask other countries considering selling arms to Nigeria to stop because Nigeria is not using the arms for their intended purposes.
“IPOB has no intention to interfere with the Italian Government’s business but wants to inform them that the Nigeria military have not used the previously acquired arms and ammunition including fighter jets to fight terrorists who operate in the open in the Northern Nigeria but have targeted innocent and peaceful people.
“In 2021, the Nigerian Air Force bought “12” A-29 Super Tucano Jets from the United State of America to fight terrorism in Nigeria. After the delivery of those fighter jets, they were deployed in the Eastern region of the country and were used in bombing of Igbo villages and its people mostly in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State.
From the day the Tucano jets arrived Nigeria in 2021 till late 2023, they were never used against terrorists but were consistently used in bombing of innocent people in Imo State in the Eastern part of the country that is Biafra land and also in bombing of ID camps in the North who are victims of Boko Haram terrorists attacks.
“The Nigerian government’s plan to purchase about 20 more fighter jets from Italy for the Nigerian Air Force now raises the question; Why would the Italian government consider selling fighter jets to Nigeria to be used on innocent, armless and peaceful Igbo communities like the U.S. deed in 2021? If the Italian government cares about the lives of Indigenous Peoples in Nigeria, then this deal has to be cancelled because it is a threat to the lives of millions of people resident in the Eastern region (Igboland).
“Nigeria government deceived United State of America in 2021 that those Tucano jets will be used against terrorists in the country, have they also told another lie to the Italian government so that they can secure the purchase of these Air Force jets?
We are watching.
“It is public knowledge that the Nigerian government and her military are not sincere in the fight against terrorists. Instead, they are after unarmed activists and innocent Nigerians. The Nigerian government is indirectly sponsoring terrorists and that is why there is no terrorist in detention or on trial in Nigeria. On the contrary, the arrested terrorists have all been released by the Nigeria government and her military. The Nigeria government negotiates with the terrorists and pay them millions of dollars in ransom. These terrorists operate freely from their camps in the open desert vegetation of the Northern Nigeria, which can easily be mapped out by aerial surveillance of the military. That confirms that the Nigeria government is not sincere in the fight against terrorists but uses terrorism as a means to fleece public funds.
“IPOB urges the Italian government to halt the sale of jets to the Nigeria government because their fight against terrorism is a hoax. The Italian government should not fall into the Nigeria government’s deception. Any supply of arms and ammunition to the Nigeria government is a tacit support to human rights abuse and violations. The Italian government and her citizens are civilized and should not support any government that is violating the fundamental human rights of her citizens. Civilized Nations should not fall into the falsehood peddled by the Nigeria government and her Air Force over fighting terrorists but in reality, they are killing innocent people because of ethnic bigotry and greed.
“We are calling on the Italian Prime Minister, Ms. Giorgia Meloni, to place an arms embargo on the Nigeria government for their history of bombing civilian population and for human right violations. The Nigeria government and airforce entered into agreement with the Italian government to supply them 24 aircrafts and for 6 aircrafts to be delivered every six months. The aircrafts were scheduled for every six months starting soon.”
