The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has cautioned President Bola Tinubu’s administration against implementing any cattle ranching or settlement initiatives, including the contentious RUGA policy, in the South-East region of Nigeria.
RUGA, a scheme designed to establish settlements for herders and cattle as a measure to reduce conflicts between farmers and herders, has faced significant opposition in the South-East. Chika Edoziem, the Head of IPOB’s Directorate of State, issued this warning during his New Year broadcast, urging the federal government to avoid actions that could provoke unrest in the region.
Edoziem stated that IPOB has adopted a neutral approach towards the Tinubu administration but would not tolerate any attempts to establish cattle ranching schemes in the South-East, describing such initiatives as veiled attempts to destabilize the area.
Edoziem emphasized that the group remains resolute in defending the autonomy of Biafraland, warning against any form of encroachment disguised as development projects. He reiterated that IPOB’s opposition to ranching initiatives is not new, recalling the group’s previous warnings to South-East governors regarding the establishment of cattle settlements in the region.
“The land of Biafra is not available for any cattle ranching or settlement schemes under any name or form,” Edoziem declared, adding that any attempts to impose such policies would be met with strong resistance.
The IPOB leader specifically called on President Tinubu to resist external pressures to destabilize the region, cautioning against any plans to introduce RUGA in Biafraland.
“If the Tinubu administration chooses to proceed with any such agenda, it should be prepared for the consequences. We are ready to demonstrate our resolve against any attempt to compromise the sovereignty of Biafraland,” he stated.
Edoziem also accused unidentified “imperial powers” of backing policies aimed at undermining the South-East under the guise of cattle ranching. He warned that the people of Biafra would fiercely resist any attempts to occupy or control their land, stressing that the region would not succumb to such pressures.
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IPOB’s strong warning highlights the continued tensions over land use policies in the South-East, where proposals like RUGA have been met with widespread skepticism and rejection.
