Proscribed Igbo separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has accused Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah of allegedly paying some leaders of Eha-Amufu community in Isi Uzo Local Government Area of the state the sum of N30 billion for them to release their communal lands for Fulani settlement.
In a statement on Saturday by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB issued a stern warning to Mbah over the alleged move, stating that the group will never allow an inch of Igbo land to be given out to Fulani settlers.
“It is obvious that Dr. Peter Mbah and the Fulani Emirates are in agreement to hand over the ancestral lands of Eha-Amufu to Fulanis for settlement,” Powerful said.
“IPOB was informed that the Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, through his proxy, offered a huge sum of N30 billion to some community leaders in Eha Amufu for them to release their communal lands for Fulani settlement.
“When the people rejected the offer, the Governor in connivance with the Nigerian Security Forces, mostly the military, called on the Fulanis to strategically invade the community.
“Presently, some of the communities in Eha-Amufu are under constant Fulani attacks which includes countless women gangraped, killing of farmers, illegal harvesting of the farm products, forceful occupying of peoples’ houses they were forced to flee etc.
“These Fulanis and invaders are presently occupying some deserted communities in Eha-Amufu while Governor Peter Mbah and the Nigerian Army and Police remain mute.
“IPOB will not allow the selfish politician to mortgage the Igbo future generations just to remain in power for eight years or more.
“ESN operatives will continue to make Alaigbo (South-East) uncomfortable for the Fulani terrorists until they leave.
“We have maintained that we do not want Fulani settlement anywhere in the South-East,” the statement added.