The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has stated that the Igbo ethnic group is more committed to leaving Nigeria than ever before. In a statement released by IPOB’s Director of Media and Publicity, Emma Powerful, on August 5, 2024, the group responded to the “IgboMustGo” campaign promoted by a faceless Yoruba group on social media. IPOB accused high-profile individuals within the Lagos State and Federal Governments of sponsoring this campaign and criticized Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for what they termed his hypocritical stance on the matter.
IPOB’s statement emphasized that the Igbo community is prepared to exit Nigeria through a democratic and peaceful referendum. They expressed readiness to leave Yoruba land and Nigeria as a whole, insisting that the Igbo will not succumb to threats or intimidation from any group. The statement highlighted past instances where the Igbo community has faced ethnic profiling and biased actions against their businesses and properties in Lagos State, attributing these actions to Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration.
Despite the ongoing “IgboMustGo” campaign, IPOB maintained that the Igbo community is not troubled by the threats posed by what they referred to as “Yoruba bigots and their sponsors.” The group reiterated their desire to leave Nigeria peacefully to preserve good neighborly relationships, emphasizing that their preference is for a democratic exit rather than a violent one.