BIAFRA: NIGERIA TARGETS IPOB ONLINE BUT THE GROUP SEEMS NOT FORGOING

The Nigerian government's request to internet giant, Google, which targets the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), quickly appeared to be a failure.

Government, through the country's Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, had asked Google to ban members and supporters of the movement from accessing YouTube and emails, but members of the separatist group which was outlawed in 2017 have vowed to continue what they described as "the assault" against the “zoo government."

Analysts say efforts to curb the activities of people advocating for an independent state known as Biafra have a 90% chance of failing, saying that apart from Google there are other platforms that the pro-Biafra Internet users will use to convey their messages.

“I think the government is chasing shadows here. The country faces serious challenges and greater threats than the IPOB and its leader Nnamdi Kanu. Asking Google to ban them is a waste of time as far as I know. These people have other platforms to get their message across to the world,” said Lagos-based writer Dele Lekan.

While the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari thinks it can stop the Biafra movement in the eastern region of the country, IPOB, which is the main separatist group in the region, considers its efforts to achieve Biafran independence as "just the beginning" with the belief that they are unstoppable.

In the Southeast, members of IPOB who have continued its activities often proclaim that Biafra is the last hope of the Igbo and their sister tribes. They use words “No Biafra, no peace” and “Biafra or death”, words that have struck fear into the Nigerian authorities.

Although being incarcerated by the government; Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the separatist group who was kidnapped in Kenya and illegally repatriated to Nigeria, still vows to achieve an independent state in Biafra.

In several messages sent through his lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor and Aloy Ejimakor, he urges his followers to remain peaceful and strong.

Meanwhile, attacks and crimes pointed at IPOB have been repeatedly debunked by the separatist group and its armed volunteer group, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).

The group says the charges are efforts by Nigerian forces to incriminate them before the international community.

Nigeria has yet to comply with the order of the United Nations Human Rights Council Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, ordering that Mr. Nnamdi Kanu be released and compensated.

"The truth is that the government cannot stop these people by blackmail, accusations or military force. The best thing to do is to dialogue with them, but I am not sure of the success of the dialogue if there be any,” said Abia state-based public analyst Owukwe Nwagbara.