Ipob says its members were the ones who attacked Rotimi Amaechi in Madrid

SEPARATIST group the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) has confirmed that its members were the ones who attacked transport minister Rotimi Amaechi during a recent trip to Spain where he was confronted by an angry mob.

Earlier this week, Mr Amaechi was confronted at an event he attended on climate change held in Madrid, the Spanish capital. However, the Spanish police quickly intervened to prevent the situation from getting ugly and according to Mr Amaechi, they succeeded in stopping his attackers before they could hurt him.

Today, Ipob has confirmed that its members were behind the attack, pointing out that they intended to give Mr Amaechi the same treatment which former deputy senate president Senator Ike Ekweremadu received in Germany. In August, Senator Ekweremadu was attacked by angry Ipob members in Nuremburg in Germany, forcing him to flee from the venue of the event in torn clothing.

Ipob spokesman Emma Powerful, said: “Yes, Ipob beat Amaechi the transport minister based on the standing order given by our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to reprimand those politicians who think they have arrived. Ipob Spain precisely Madrid, beat minister of transport Chibouk Amaechi in Spain.

“The order was there before the attack on former deputy senate president Dr Ike Ekweremadu in Nuremberg, Germany. Ipob is warming all those corrupt politicians who brought hardship to the people that we are waiting for them anywhere we meet or see them.

"We are telling the whole world why they must be dealt with because they are not sincere to the people, to the suffering citizens. We ask them to retrace their steps otherwise Ipob in the diaspora will continue to treat their foolishness anywhere around the world.”

Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the chair of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission, has already condemned the attack,  saying it paints Nigeria in a bad light. Praising the Spanish police for promptly stepping in, Hon Dabiri-Erewa urged diasporans to refrain from actions that would embarrass Nigeria abroad.

She added: "We applaud the prompt intervention of the Nigerian mission in Spain as well as the Spanish police who ensured that the attacks did not escalate any further. We appeal to Nigerians to be of good behaviour wherever they find themselves because such incidents ultimately tarnish the image of the country within the host country, with multiplier negative effects on Nigerians living in that country, who are law abiding and well behaved."