IPOB warns Ohanaeze not to tender apologies to Fulanis over 1966 coup 

By  Phil Okose, Oniitsha 

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has warned Ohanaeze Ndigbo to jettison its plan to apologize to the Fulani caliphate over the alleged involvement of Igbo soldiers in the 1966 military coup that led to the death of Ahmadu Bello.

The spokesperson of IPOB, Emma Powerful made this known in a statement signed and issued to newsmen on Friday.

He said that it is sacrilegious for Ohaneze Ndigbo to apologize to the Fulani Caliphate over the 1966 coup.

The statement reads in part: “Ohaneze has crossed the red line by attempting to go and apologize to the Fulani terrorists for what the Ohaneze called forgiveness from the Caliphate for Igbo military officers involvement in the 1966 coup that led to the death of Ahmadu Bello. 

IPOB described as abomination, the planned visit of Ohaneze Ndigbo, adding that it will be on record as enemies of Ndigbo and other indigenous people in Nigeria if they apologize.

“Fulanis have  allegedly murdered indigenous people of Biafra and Ndigbo from 1933, 1945, 1953 1966 till date, Indigenous People of Hausa, indigenous people of Yoruba, indigenous people of Middle Belt and other indigenous peoples in Nigeria. These murderous Fulanis have not apologized for killing millions of indigenous people in Nigeria. 

“The military coup of January 15, 1966 was carried out by young military officers from all ethnic groups in Nigeria to stop Mallam Ahmadu Bello and Abubarka Tafa Belawa from the forceful Islamization of Nigeria.

” But Major Chukwuma Nzeogwu and other young military officers including those from Northern, Western saw this and stop them with Middle Belt regions, stopped them in a bloody coup. Ndigbo never sent military officers to stage a coup for them or to murder on their behalf. Nevertheless, the 1966 coup that was carried out by the young military officers from all the ethnic groups in Nigeria was viciously tagged as Igbo coup.

” Why was the military coup led by Murtala Muhammed, Babangida, Buhari, Abacha and other Northern military officers not tagged Hausa or Fulani coup? Ndigbo have been victims of Fulani massacre in the Northern Nigeria from 1933 till date. 

“During the genocidal war of 1966 – 1970, millions of Ndigbo were massacred, both pregnant women and unborn children. Still today Ndigbo are being slaughtered in their farms and homes by Fulani terrorists, case of recent Uzu Uwani of Enugu State is a case study,” IPOB recalled.