Ipob plans to initiate $2m fundraising programme so it can generate funds with which to equip ESN

SECESSIONIST group the Indigenous People Of Biafra (Ipob) has announced ambitious plans to raise $2m over the next few months to help equip its armed wing the Eastern Security Network (ESN).

Created as Ipob's  military wing ESN has taken on the responsibility of confronting armed Fulani herdsmen across the southeast geo-political zone. Of late, however, it has been accused of acts of bringandry, including raiding police stations and carting away weapons, as well as carrying out summary executions.

While all this is going on the Nigerian state has stepped up its presence in the southeast, increasing the number of soldiers and security operatives in the area. Faced with this overwhelming firepower, Ipob is now embarking on a major fundraising drive to enable it purchase weapons, so ESN can at least defend itself.

Already, Ipob's US chapter is set to hold a fund-raising event on October 30 to kick-start the programme. In a further big boost for Ipob lately, several Igbo lawyers have applied to the federal high court in Abuja to join them as defendants in a suit instituted by a group of northern elders praying for exit of the south east region out of Nigeria.

These legal practitioners led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria Chief Chuks Muoma, included Ukpai Ukairo, Ebere Uzoatu and Hon Obi Emuka. They are asking for order of the court to allow them join in the suit as representatives of the people of the south eastern region.