Proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has declared October 1, 2020, as sit-at-home across Biafraland.

The group said the decision followed credible intelligence alleging terrorist groups plan to slaughter people of the region who intend to celebrate the Independence day.

In a statement by the Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB said its members would join its Yoruba brethren agitating for the Oduduwa Republic, in public protests to mark the day.

The pro-Biafran group stressed complete and total lockdown of Biafraland and other terror ravaged areas of the Middle Belt come 1st of October 2020 was sacrosanct, irreversible and non-negotiable.

It enjoined all Biafrans and every conscious Nigerian to boycott every government organised ceremony designed to eulogise Nigeria.

The statement partly reads: “We the global movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our great Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wish to announce to all Biafrans, friends of Biafra and lovers of freedom all over the world that Biafrans across the globe shall observe a sit-at-home in Biafraland and were permissible in the diaspora, join our Yoruba brethren agitating for the Oduduwa Republic, in public protests to mark October 1, 2020.

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“We, therefore, enjoin all Biafrans and every conscious Nigerian, especially those ethnic nationalities reeling from the triple-double blow of state-sponsored terrorism, bad governance and economic annihilation, to boycott every government organised ceremony designed to eulogise the failure that Nigeria has become.

“This is the time to let the world know how disastrously intolerable human existence is in Nigeria today.

“If you want to see an end to terrorism and organised mediocrity, now is the time to register your anger by ensuring that you and your household sit-at-home on October 1, 2020. Do not risk the life and well-being of your children by allowing them to gather in groups in the open where terrorists may find it easier to blow them up or kidnap them.

“There is credible intelligence that terrorist groups are planning to slaughter our children should they venture out to celebrate or March on October 1st.

“This order is to highlight our position and resolve as Biafrans that we are no longer interested in proping up a crumbling terrorist state.

“The leadership of this great movement in conjunction with supporters of Biafra freedom across the globe have concluded every arrangement to let the whole world know and understand that we are no longer part of this shambolic monument to terrorism and failure.

“As this long-expired man-made contraption marks her abused independence on October 1st this year, we IPOB will appropriately declare our intention towards the full and irreversible restoration of Biafra sovereignty and independence for all oppressed ethnic groups in Nigeria.

“Complete and total lockdown of Biafraland and other terror ravaged areas of the Middle Belt come 1st of October 2020 is sacrosanct, irreversible and non-negotiable!

“Wholesale slaughter of innocent Judeo-Christians and state-sponsored ethnic cleansing cannot be going on in our land at the same time as fake jamborees are being organised by the same sponsor’s terror attacks,⁹ in order to deflect our attention away from the imminent danger we are all in.

“We therefore urge that all markets, schools and businesses in Biafraland and beyond be shut down as a mark of respect to all those who have died as a result of terrorism against innocent civilians especially Christians, ethnic cleansing in Southern Kaduna and elsewhere across the Middle Belt.

“Everywhere in Biafraland must be under lock for Nigeria and the world to know that we are all united in our march toward total freedom. There should be no public events or ceremonies in Biafraland to avoid any needless loss of lives.”

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The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Kogi State Command, has confirmed the death of twenty-three (23) persons in a tanker explosion that occurred in the early hours of Wednesday along Felele – Nataco axis of Abuja – Lokoja road.

The accident involved a tanker loaded with petroleum product, a school bus, cars, tricycles and motorcycles.

Confirming the incident on Wednesday afternoon, the Kogi State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr Idris Ali gave the figures of the victims to include ten adult males, six female adults, three female children and four other children burnt beyond recognition.

Mr Ali, however, said one child escaped death with injury.

The Sector Commander said ten vehicles including five cars, one taker, three tricycles and two motorcycles were involved in the accident.

He added that eleven of the corpses have already been claimed by their relatives while the rest have been deposited in the morgue at the Kogi State Specialist hospital, Lokoja.

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An eyewitness account said the tanker failed break at GT Plaza at Felele and rammed into the vehicles in its front causing the fatal accident.

A whole family of six who were caught in the inferno all died before help could come their way.

Our reporter gathered that sympathizers watched helplessly as no fire fighting vehicles from the state or federal fire services came to the scene to put off the fire.

Meanwhile, the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has expressed shock over the unfortunate fatal tanker explosion which took place in the early hours of Wednesday 23, September, around the Felele area of Lokoja metropolis.

In a statement by Onogwu Muhammed, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, the Governor is very sad to learn of the tragic loss of lives in the petrol tanker explosion.

Governor Bello in the statement expressed his deepest condolences to the family of those affected by the ugly incidence.

He said, “this is sadly the greatest tragedies the state has witnessed in recent times. The unfortunate accident is a sad development. I share the feeling of those who lost their loved ones in this incident”.

The Governor also urged the students of Kogi State Polytechnic to remain calm and peaceful, stating that he equally shared in their grieving moment over the death of some of their colleagues in the disaster”.

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