The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Monday attacked popular Islamic cleric, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi, for comparing IPOB with Boko Haram, accusing the Cleric of being one of the sponsors of the insurgents for him to have been having cordial relationship with them in their camps and hideouts.

According to a statement by IPOB Spokesperson, Comrade Emma Powerful, the group said it read a “provocative remark” credited to “Sheik Gumi that bandits and freedom fighters are the same. Gumi in the said media report, allegedly compared agitators of Biafra and Oduduwa republics with his Fulani bandits  rampaging the North and ravaging the entire South.

“Such a statement if true, has simply unmasked and exposed the real identify of this man masquerading as an Islamic cleric when in actual fact he is one of the hardened supporters of Fulani terrorism. With such ignorance ladden uttrance from a supposed Islamic scholar, the world does not need to look far for the real sponsors of banditry and terrorism in Nigeria.

“We now know those behind the killing spree and evil agenda to decimate indigenous ethnic populations and non-Muslim communities across Nigeria. Before now Nigerians were deceived into believing that bandits and other agents of terror on rampage all over Nigeria were invisible and without a fixed address.”

Asking questions on the apparent cordial relationship between Sheik Gumi, IPOB asked, “how come this pretender and self-acclaimed Islamic cleric knew where to find the bandits? He even posed for a picture with gun weilding murderers and was very proud of it. How was it that this man managed to locate the hideout of these mass murderers but Nigeria Airforce cannot?

“How come there hasn’t been any invasion or bombing of any (of) these Bandits’ Settlements in the North but the same Nigeria Airforce were quick to deploy fighter jets to be terrorising innocent citizens in Orlu? Not only did Sheik Gumi wine and dine with their bandits, he has also suddenly became their advocate. He has gone to the extent of comparing blood suckers with self-determination activists. What a national embarrassment!

“In his warped mind, Sheik Gumi can no longer differentiate between self determination which is a constitutionally guaranteed right and terrorism which is a crime. This hypocrisy has confirmed our earlier position that terrorism and banditry in Nigeria are common agenda of the caliphate.
“ISWAP, bandits and Fulani herdsmen are one and the same people whose common aim is to decimate the indigenous populations in Nigeria and ultimately Fulanise the country.

“It’s an insult to freedom fighters all over the world to be compared with blood-sucking demons in human clothing like Fulani herdsmen. If we may ask Gumi, going by his lame argument, is Nicola Sturgeon the leader of Scotland a terrorist or bandit? We want to let Gumi and his fellow Fulani Boko Haram and bandits to understand that Biafrans will never allow Fulani to take any inch of Biafraland under the guise of one Nigeria fake unity.

“Gumi is a terrorist calling peaceful agitators terrorists. He has just revealed his true identify. Now the world knows those to be held responsible for the daily blood bath in Nigeria. Gumi is not just an apologist for terrorism in Nigeria but a certified bandit in his own right and must know that a miscreant is better than a murderous bandit any day any time”, IPOB warned.

Emma Powerful further warned that Gumi should also know that those holding meetings with killers and advocating integration of bandits and other terrorists group into an imaginary amnesty program are nothing but their sponsors.

“Other ethnic groups and nationalities may fall or capitulate before the hegemonic might of the Fulani caliphate in Nigeria but not those of us from the East”, the statement concluded.

Credit: Global Upfront