IPOB Set For Mass Protest On Monday, Target Politicians Assets, Pope Francis Prays For Nigeria

The proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) said its members would begin peaceful across the Biafra land on Monday.

A statement by the spokesman of the Pro-Biafra group, Emma Powerful, has it the protest scheduled to hold in Benin, Enugu, Aba, Abakaliki, Umuahia, Nnewi, Uyo, Calabar, Onitsha and among others States is as a result of the killings, destruction and burning of private properties across Biafraland.

Powerful, who disclosed the protesters would also engage in a cleanup exercise to tidy up and clear the numerous mountains of rubbish in these cities, added measures were also being put in place to protect the lives and properties of innocent citizens from being attacked by rented hoodlums and political thugs.

The group in the statement however, stated assets acquired with looted public funds by corrupt politicians will remain legitimate targets.

The group while warning against deviating from the purpose and intentions of the protests said: “It is important to note that anybody found attacking or engaging in arson or wanton destruction of private property will be dealt with on the spot.

“Peaceful protests will commence after the clean-up but will only be confined to designated locations, there will be no procession or street march.

“Marching on the streets will not be tolerated as not to give room to mischief makers to breach public peace.

“We are hereby issuing a warning that any hoodlum or rented thug found at the venue of any protest will be mercilessly dealt with by the people.

“We urge them to steer clear or better join us in the clean-up and peaceful gathering afterwards.

“Anybody found wandering near a bank or loitering with intent will be moved on.

“People will not be allowed to congregate near a bank or financial institution. No act capable of breaching the peace will be tolerated from Monday the 26th of October 2020 onwards.

“Protests and gatherings will be held but it must be peaceful and orderly. No criminality of any form will be condoned, either from hoodlums, hired thugs, the police or the army. Everybody must be well behaved.

“It is our hope that protests across Biafraland and Nigeria must continue until all demands made by the leaders of #EndSars movement met in quick time,” the statement concluded.

Menwhile, amidst growing tension across the country, the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, Sunday called for prayers for the country.

The Pope in a tweet on his verified tweeter handle, @Pontifex called on everyone particularly Catholics to pray against every form of violence brewing in the country in the aftermath of the #ENDSARS protest.

The Pope in his statement said: “Let us pray to the Lord for Nigeria, so that every form of violence might always be avoided, in the constant search of social harmony through the promotion of justice and the common good.”