Place embargo on arms sales to Nigeria – IPOB urges Italian govt

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Wednesday called on the Italian government to place an embargo on the sale of arms and jets to Nigeria.

IPOB said weapons sold to the Nigerian government are used against innocent armless Igbos in the Southeastern part of the country.

Emma Powerful, the spokesman of IPOB, pointed out that Nigeria’s security agencies violate human rights in the Southeast.

A statement by Powerful reads partly: “The Nigerian government’s plan to purchase about 20 more fighter jets from Italy for the Nigerian Air Force now raises the question: Why would the Italian government consider selling fighter jets to Nigeria to be used on innocent, armless and peaceful Igbo communities like the U.S. did in 2021? If the Italian government cares about the lives of indigenous people in Nigeria, then this deal has to be cancelled because it is a threat to the lives of millions of people resident in the Eastern region (Igboland).

“IPOB urges the Italian government to halt the sale of jets to the Nigeria government because their fight against terrorism is a hoax. The Italian government should not fall into the Nigeria government’s deception. Any supply of arms and ammunition to the Nigeria government is a tacit support to human rights abuse and violations.

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“The Italian government and her citizens are civilised and should not support any government that is violating the fundamental human rights of her citizens. Civilized nations should not fall into the falsehood peddled by the Nigeria government and her Air Force over fighting terrorists but in reality, they are killing innocent people because of ethnic bigotry and greed.

“We are calling on the Italian Prime Minister, Ms. Giorgia Meloni, to place an arm embargo on the Nigeria government for their history of bombing civilian populations and for human right violations. The Nigeria government and airforce entered into agreement with the Italian government to supply them 24 aircrafts and for 6 aircrafts to be delivered every six months. The aircrafts were scheduled for every six months starting soon.

“IPOB members worldwide demand civilised nations across the world to stop the supply of ammunition to Nigeria because they are indirectly sponsoring Boko Haram and other terrorist groups in Northern Nigeria to continue.”